On Feb 27^th, the CJK+ASEAN Young Ambassadors Program 2024 (YAP2024) was launched at Guangxi University. With support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK, the program is hosted by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), organized by Guangxi University and co-organized by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangxi Committee. This is the first time that CJK+ASEAN Young Ambassadors Program has been held in China, and the scope of topics discussed in the program is firstly expanded to ASEAN countries. Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, LEE Hee-sup, Secretary General of the CJK Cooperation Secretariat, Wang Naixue, Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Secretary of the CPC Guangxi University Committee, Yang Yanyan, President of the Guangxi Sub-council of the CCPIT and Secretary General of the Secretariat of the CABIS, Vongpano SIPASEUTH, Consul General of the Lao PDR in Nanning, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Secretary General of the China-ASEAN Centre Shi Zhongjun, Secretary General of the Japan-ASEAN Centre Kunihiko HIRABAYASHI, former Ambassador of the ROK to Turkmenistan CHUNG Tae-in, and 50 undergraduate and postgraduate students participating in the program from China, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN countries, as well as a total of 450 students from Guangxi University, attended the opening ceremony.

(Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, delivered a video speech at the opening ceremony.)

Sun Weidong congratulated the successful launch of the YAP2024 as the trilateral cooperation celebrated its 25th anniversary at the conclusion of the 10th CJK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in November last year. Reviewing the steady progress made in CJK cooperation since 1999, he said the highly institutionalized CJK cooperation has brought benefits to the people of the three countries and beyond. He encouraged the younger generation to learn from each other, building bridges of friendship and cooperation among nations and contributing to peace and prosperity in East Asia and the wider region.

(LEE Hee-sup, Secretary General of the CJK Co-operation Secretariat, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.)

LEE Hee-sup stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation, stating that it was crucial not only for the three East Asian countries, but also for the entire region and beyond. He reiterated the commitment of the CJK Cooperation Secretariat to further promote regional cooperation under the vision of “CJK+X” and existing frameworks including the RCEP and 10+3 cooperation. He said that friendly and future-oriented relations among the three countries depended on the younger generation, and encouraged students to embrace the concept of pluralism and cultivate the spirit of dialogue and mutual understanding across borders and generations.

(Wang Naixue, Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Secretary of the CPC Guangxi University Committee, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.)

Wang Naixue extended a warm welcome to the participants. He said that civilizations are enriched by exchanges and mutual understanding, and he hoped that the young generation would build a platform for close cooperation among countries and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for all the mankind and the further promotion of world peace, development and harmony.

(Yang Yanyan, President of the Guangxi Sub-council of the CCPIT and Secretary General of the Secretariat of the CABIS, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.)

Yang Yanyan said, “Youth nurtures infinite hope and creates a better future.” The participation and contribution of youth are indispensable to the future-oriented development of regional cooperation and the promotion of lasting peace and prosperity in East Asia. She encouraged young people to become the new force of 10+3 cooperation and to contribute wisdom and proposals for the development of East Asia.

(Vongpano SIPASEUTH, Consul General of the Lao PDR in Nanning,delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.)

Vongpano SIPASEUTH highly valued YAP2024 as an opportunity for young people from the 10+3 countries to interact closely, encouraging the young participants to fully engage in the exchange of cultures and perspectives to enhance mutual understanding. He further said that Laos, as the rotating Chair of ASEAN in 2024, is willing to work together with China, Japan and Korea to further promote regional prosperity and connectivity.

(Exchange with Ambassadors Face-to-Face)

At the “Ambassadors Face-to-Face” session after the opening ceremony, Shi Zhongjun, Kunihiko HIRABAYASHI and CHUNG Tae-in interacted positively with the participants and wished the young generation to carry forward the spirit of innovation, collaboration and mutual learning, and to work together to promote the regional friendship and cooperation to achieve even more fruitful results, and to jointly create a brighter and more promising future.

(Leaders of Guangxi University are meeting with the guests.)

(Guests are visiting Guangxi University History Museum.)

(Three Secretaries General are visiting the Integrated Platform for Experimental Research on Large Structures in Civil Engineering.)

Before the opening ceremony, Wang Naixue also met with LEE Hee-sup, Shi Zhongjun and other guests respectively, introduced in detail the school-running characteristics, advantageous disciplines, ASEAN research, as well as cooperation between Guangxi University and ASEAN universities in scientific research and training of international students, and discussed how to promote the cooperation between Guangxi University, Japanese, Korean and ASEAN universities and scientific research institutes, to carry out the international training of talents and ASEAN oriented research with TCS and China-ASEAN Centre for in-depth exchanges. Xia Guo’en and Xiao Jianzhuang, vice presidents of Guangxi University accompanied the guests to visit the University History Museum, the International School, and the Comprehensive Platform for Large-scale Structural Test and Research in Civil Engineering. The persons in charge of the Party Office, International Cooperation and Exchange Office, Youth League Committee, International School, School of Economics/China-ASEAN Institute of Financial Co-operation participated in the relevant activities.

(Participants are addressing at the opening ceremony of YAP2024.)

The CJK+ASEAN Young Ambassadors Program 2024 will be held from February 26^th to March 6^th in 2024 over a period of 10 days. A series of activities will be held during this period, including six lectures by distinguished personalities such as Zhang Yunling, Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Li Kouqing, Director of ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic and Research Office, and ICHIHARA Jun, Director of Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Research Centre in Bangkok, two career exchanges with young experts from various institutes and international organizations, and one TED-type youth talk by participants, as well as visits to the Office of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate General of the Autonomous Region. Participants will also have an opportunity to experience the local culture.

The YAP is a short-term young student exchange program launched in 2013 by Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, an international organization approved by the governments of the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Guangxi, where YAP2024 will be held, is in the centre of the CJK+ASEAN region, with unique regional advantages. And Guangxi University, as an important university facing ASEAN countries, has taken the lead in setting up the China-ASEAN Collaborative Innovation Centre, the ASEAN-China University Think-Tank Network, and signed cooperation and exchange agreements with 13 Japanese, 12 Korean and 97 ASEAN colleges and universities as well as academic institutions, playing a leading role in ASEAN research and talent training. The hosting of YAP2024 marks a new chapter in the cooperation between Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat and Guangxi University, and will provide a broader platform and opportunities for the promotion of exchanges and mutual appreciation between Chinese and foreign young scholars.