The opening ceremony of the 2020 ASEAN-China Young Leader Scholarship Class took place online on October 20. Authorities attended the ceremony organized by China’s Mission to ASEAN and delivered opening speeches, including Lin Yuhui, secretary-general of ASEAN, Luo Zhaohui, undersecretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Elizabeth Boonsuseso, Philippines’ Foreign Ministry ASEAN Affairs officer, Mateo, undersecretary of Philippine Department of Education, and Kung Phoak, undersecretary of ASEAN. Deng Xijun, Chinese ambassador to ASEAN, and Noel, Philippines’ permanent representative to ASEAN, delivered closing speeches. Chen Dehai, secretary-general of ASEAN-China Centre, representatives of ASEAN countries and many ASEAN organizations, and students who won the scholarship also attended the event.

[Luo Zhaohui, undersecretary of MFA of China, delivers opening speech.]

[Chen Dehai, secretary-general of ASEAN-China Centre, attends the event.]

The ACYLS has become one of the innovative flagship projects of ASEAN-China cooperation in less than two years by making great importance to ASEAN-China people-to-people dialogue, said Luo Zhaohui. “China encourages more ASEAN youngsters to study in China through the scholarship. We are looking forward that youngsters from ASEAN countries and China can enhance our abilities and understandings through mutual learning,” Luo said.

This year, many young people overcame the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and actively signed up for the scholarship programs, demonstrating their optimism, perseverance and energy, said Elizabeth. Although the ACYLS has just started, it will surely go a long way and become a symbol of ASEAN-China friendly cooperation.

The ACYLS is an important initiative announced by Chinese leaders at the 21st ASEAN-China Summit in 2018 and implemented through the “Jakarta Channel”. The project was successfully launched in 2019, with about 100 youngsters from ASEAN countries coming to China for master’s degree or doctoral degrees, undertaking short-term study or participating in capacity-building training programs. In 2020, nearly 40 ASEAN young people overcame the impact of the epidemic and were invited to study in China.