2026 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week opens in Beijing

On Oct. 25, the 2026 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week kicked off in Beijing. Zhang Lizhong, secretary general of the ASEAN-China Centre; Yu Yingfu, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG); and Jia Wenjian, president of Beijing Foreign Studies University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks.

Under the theme "Hehe for the Future: Youth in a World of Civilizational Harmony," the opening ceremony featured a rich lineup of activities, including keynote speeches from academic and business-sector guests, roundtable dialogues, youth speeches, and artistic performance.

Zhang Lizhong, secretary general of the ASEAN-China Centre, speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2026 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week in Beijing, Oct. 25, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Zhang emphasized that young people are the most dynamic, creative, and forward-looking group. He said he hopes that Chinese and ASEAN youth will strengthen mutual trust, nurture enduring friendship, and unlock innovative vitality, lending youthful vigor to advancing the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and building a shared and beautiful home.

Yu Yingfu, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2026 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week in Beijing, Oct. 25, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Yu said strong people-to-people ties and the continued engagement of younger generations are bedrocks of China-ASEAN ties. He called on young people to bring energy, wisdom, and a sense of responsibility to carrying forward friendship and cooperation, advancing innovation and development in the digital age, and helping shape a shared future together.

Jia Wenjian, president of Beijing Foreign Studies University, speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2026 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week in Beijing, Oct. 25, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

Jia expressed the hope that Chinese and ASEAN youth can find resonance between civilizations, respect each other amid differences, and build bridges between diverse civilizations with an open mind.

Guests jointly launch the 2026 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week in Beijing, Oct. 25, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

The weeklong event will feature a fieldwork sharing session, a sub-forum on regional and country studies, a youth friendship sports match, a parallel session in Laos, and other activities. The Center for International Cultural Communication of CICG is among the co-organizers of the event.