On the morning of April 19, the opening ceremony of "the Youth Dream Program—Photo Exhibition of Zhou Enlai and the Bandung Conference & China-ASEAN (Indonesia) Youth Table Tennis Training Camp" was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Event was jointly organized by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), Enlai Foundation, and the Memorial to Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC, Chinese Ambassador Wang Lutong to Indonesia, Counselor Xie Zhangwei from the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, Chairman Shen Qing of Enlai Foundation, Senior Officer Joel Atienza from the Education, Youth and Sports Division of ASEAN Secretariat, Vice President of South East Asian Table Tennis Association and President of Indonesian Table Tennis Association Komjen Pol. (Purn.) Drs. Setyo Wasisto, SH, along with nearly a hundred invited guests and young students participated in the Event.
Shi Zhongjun noted that in 1955, China and Indonesia, alongside other newly independent nations, laid the foundation for a new era of South-South cooperation - one built on mutual respect, sovereign equality and shared aspirations. As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia in 2025, the strategic partnership between China and Indonesia stands as a living testament to the Bandung Spirit. In an era of uncertainty, China and Indonesia continue to champion inclusive multilateralism, proving that unity among developing nations is not just a historical ideal but a force for 21st-century stability and prosperity. Against the backdrop of the 2025 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges, the youth will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of ASEAN-China relations. It is hoped that through table tennis, a sport that transcends border, we will bring young people of ASEAN Member States and China closer together, building mutual understanding and lasting friendship.
Wang Lutong highlighted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. Seventy years ago, Premier Zhou Enlai and President Sukarno facilitated the signing of the Ten Principles of Peaceful Coexistence among Asian and African Countries by participating nations, which greatly inspired developing countries in their struggles for national independence and liberation. Reflecting on history, we gain a deeper appreciation for the enduring vitality of the Bandung Conference Spirit - solidarity, friendship and cooperation. It is believed that the youth of both countries, by forging friendships through table tennis and fostering mutual understanding through competitions, will contribute youthful energy to the development of China-Indonesia relations and the friendship between the people of the two nations.
Shen Qing emphasized that through this exhibition of precious historical photographs, we revisited Premier Zhou’s diplomatic legacy and the profound impact of the Bandung Conference, reaffirming the enduring significance of “seeking common ground while shelving differences and peaceful coexistence” for Asia, Africa and the wider world. Furthermore, young people are the future of the world as well as the ambassadors of peace. He hoped that this table tennis program will foster friendship, carry forward the Bandung Spirit, sow the seeds of amity, peace, development, cooperation and shared prosperity in the hearts of the younger generation.
The honored guests jointly inaugurated the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and viewed the exhibition “Solidarity, Friendship and Cooperation: An Exhibition of Pictures of Zhou Enlai and the Bandung Conference”. The exhibition is composed of four thematic sections—“Origin: Pursuing a Shared Dream”, “Setting off: Overcoming All Obstacles to Attend the Bandung Conference”, “Grand Event: Bearing Fruitful Results through Seeking Common Ground while Shelving Differences” and “Inheritance: New Vitality of the Bandung Spirit” and it will be open to the public free of charges for 15 days in Jakarta, Indonesia.
On the afternoon of April 19th, the Youth Dream Program—China-ASEAN (Indonesia) Youth Table Tennis Training Camp was successfully held. The friendly table tennis competition adopted a mixed team relay format, with 24 young players from China and Indonesia forming two teams. The event was held in a cordial atmosphere where the participants demonstrated their superb table tennis skills while the mutual understanding and friendship was deepened. Following the tournament, the youth camp will lead the young students to visit Jakarta and Bandung.
This youth exchange event has vividly demonstrated the contemporary value of the Bandung Conference Spirit through the exhibition. Furthermore, with sports as a bond, the activity has also strengthened the traditional friendship between China and Indonesia and enhanced the friendly exchanges among youth from China and ASEAN countries. This exchange initiative among youth will inject new vitality into the building of a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future, further deepening the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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