The 2025 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week Concludes Successfully

Beijing, China Oct 1, 2025 – The 2025 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week successfully concluded from September 25 to 29, held across Beijing, Quzhou, and other locations. Under the theme “Shaping a Shared Future: The Cross-Cultural Dynamism of Youth,” the event’s agenda included an opening ceremony, the China-ASEAN Future Talent Dialogue, the 2025 Decoding Chinese Path to Modernization Workshop, the Seminar on Theoretical Value and Strategic Outlook of China-ASEAN+ Cross-Regional Cooperation, and opportunities to experience traditional Chinese culture. More than 200 experts, scholars, and young participants from China and ASEAN nations attended these activities.

The opening ceremony featured speeches by Shi Zhongjun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre; Jaime A. FlorCruz, Ambassador of the Philippines to China; Chatchai Viriyavejakul, Ambassador of Thailand to China; Yu Yingfu, Vice President of China International Communications Group (CICG); Wen Jun, Vice President and Deputy Party Secretary of the University of International Business and Economics; and Zhang Yihao, Deputy Director of the News Center of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC). They collectively expressed hopes for deeper cultural exchanges, mutual learning, and youth contributions to global governance. Guests and youth representatives engaged in roundtable dialogues on topics such as “Youth-led Ecological Action under the Sustainable Development Goal” and “The Shared Future of China-ASEAN Youth,” discussing educational collaboration, cross-cultural understanding, and development in the Global South. Additionally, students from China and ASEAN countries presented various cultural performances.

During the Cultural Week, the “Decoding Chinese Path to Modernization” International Communication Workshop was hosted at the Communication University of China, where Gen Z youth from China and ASEAN shared their views on modernization and their involvement in its progression.

At the China-ASEAN Future Talent Dialogue, which took place at Beijing Language and Culture University, companies including China Southern Power Grid, CHN Energy, and CRRC focused on the topic of China-ASEAN corporate cooperation and multinational talent strategies. They offered insights into business development within ASEAN countries, the demand for international talent, relevant training systems, and internship and career opportunities for international students.

The Seminar on Theoretical Value and Strategic Outlook of China-ASEAN+ Cross-Regional Cooperation was held at Peking University. Senior think tank researchers, journal editors, seasoned journalists, and PhD candidates from China, the EU, ASEAN, and other regions explored the necessity and feasibility of cross-regional cooperation through the lens of localized area studies.

The Culture Week also provided autonomous vehicle test rides by Baidu, along with traditional Chinese culture experiences such as tea art and the creation of traditional Chinese medicine sachets. Youth leaders from China and ASEAN also visited Quzhou, Zhejiang Province. In November, a series of ASEAN-focused sessions are planned to be held in Thailand.

The 2025 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week was spearheaded by the CICG Center for International Cultural Communication and the International College at the University of International Business and Economics. It received support from the ASEAN-China Centre and the News Center of SASAC, with special assistance from the International Cooperation Center. Co-organizers included the Institute of Area Studies at Peking University, the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies at the Communication University of China, and the College of Applied Chinese Studies at Beijing Language and Culture University.