On 22 November 2019, the 4th ASEAN-China Youth Forum hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was held in Hainan Tropical Ocean University (HTOU). With the theme of “New Era, New Youth and New Development", the Forum was organized by HTOU.

Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, Mr. Wang Changren, Secretary of the Party Committee of HTOU, Mr. Mongkol Visitstump, Minister of the Royal Thai Embassy in China, Mr. Tao Hongjian, Deputy Director-General of Hainan Provincial Department of Education, Ms. Zhang Weilan, Deputy Secretary-General of Sanya Municipal Government, and officials from embassies of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Malaysia in China attended the opening ceremony, which saw the participation of more than 300 Chinese and ASEAN students studying in universities of China.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai stated in his remarks that ASEAN-China relations have entered a new era, embracing new opportunities and broad prospects. The ASEAN-China Youth Forum will not only enrich young people’s understanding of ASEAN-China relations, but also provide a wonderful opportunity to forge friendship, deepen mutual trust, and jointly explore ways to build a better future. Young people are the hope of our nations and the most dynamic and creative force in society. It’s hoped that young people will carry forward the traditional friendship between ASEAN and China, and make contributions to building an even closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

Secretary Wang Changren said that the ASEAN-China Youth Forum has set up a good platform for exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and ASEAN young talents, which will deepen mutual understanding, enhance exchanges and promote common prosperity.

Minister Mongkol Visitstump said that ASEAN and China have attached much importance to closer people-to-people exchanges. The ASEAN-China Young Leaders’ Scholarship Programme launched this year will benefit the development of ASEAN’s human resources and further strengthen ties between the two peoples. As the youth is key to future success in national development, he believed that all the young participants will become great asset of the ASEAN-China family.

Deputy Director-General Tao Hongjian said that friendly exchanges and mutual learning among young people are the important foundation for China and ASEAN to keep close contact and build friendship. He hoped that young participants will seize the new opportunities created by the BRI international cooperation, and actively take part in building a closer China- ASEAN community with a shared future.

Deputy Secreatry-General Zhang Weilan hoped that the Fourm would help strengthen youth exchanges and education cooperation between Hainan and ASEAN countries, and contribute to ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges.

Chinese student Ms. Pu Ruiting and Philippine student Ms. Mariebeth B. Luna from HTOU, and Indonesian graduate student Ms. Restu Nugrahani from Chengdu University spoke on behalf of Chinese and ASEAN students. They all expressed their confidence in leading in-depth development of ASEAN-China relations through close exchanges among the youth.

Following the opening ceremony, Ms. Zhu Beiwei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mr. Xiong Sidong, President of Suzhou University, Mr. Fan Zuojun, Vice President of Guangxi University, and Mr. Ju Hailong, Professor of the School of International Relations of Jinan University delivered keynote reports respectively. ASEAN student representatives from Tianjin University, Shandong University and Ocean University of China shared their thoughts on the subjects of “Thai Life in China”, “Building a Bright Society through Youth Exchanges and Collaboration”, and “Development Prospect of China-ASEAN Cooperation on Scientific and Technological Innovation -a New Bridge Built by the Youth”.

In the afternoon sessions, participants had extensive and in-depth discussions on the three sub-forum topics, including “New Trends and New Development of ASEAN-China People-to-People Exchanges”, “Innovation & Regional Cooperation and Development” and “Tourism Promotion for Regional Cooperation and Development”. All agreed that strengthening youth friendly exchanges is in line with the development trend of the times and the development momentum of ASEAN-China relations. Both sides should seize opportunities, adopt new thinking and forge ahead in jointly building closer ties between the two peoples.

During the Forum, Secretary-General Chen Dehai had extensive exchanges with relevant universities and student representatives from ASEAN and China.