The 2026 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week opened at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on Oct 25.

Co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre, the Center for International Cultural Communication of China International Communications Group (CICC) and BFSU, the week-long event saw the attendance of Zhang Lizhong, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre; Yu Yingfu, deputy director of China International Communications Group (CICG); Jia Wenjian, president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU Committee; and Zhao Gang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BFSU Committee and vice-president of BFSU.

Zhang Lizhong delivers a speech at the event. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Zhang said young people are the most energetic, creative, and forward-looking group, and they are not only beneficiaries of the ASEAN-China community with a shared future but also its builders. He expressed the hope that Chinese and ASEAN youth would deepen mutual trust, strengthen friendship, and spark innovation, contributing their youthful energy to the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership and to building a better home for all.

Yu Yingfu encourages young people to carry forward friendship and cooperation. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yu said mutual understanding and closeness between peoples, and the relay of friendship across generations of young people, form an important foundation of ASEAN-China relations. He expressed the hope that young people, with vigor, wisdom, and a sense of responsibility, would carry forward friendship and cooperation, act as innovators at the forefront of the digital era, and work together toward a shared future.

Jia Wenjian notes the importance of young people in people-to-people exchanges. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Jia noted that young people are the most dynamic vanguard in people-to-people exchanges. He expressed the hope that Chinese and ASEAN youth would find resonance in each other's civilizations, learn to respect differences, connect different civilizations with open minds, and leave the echoes of their youth across the broad field of ASEAN-China cooperation.

BFSU students perform at the event's opening ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

At the opening ceremony, students from the Malay-language program at BFSU performed a traditional Malay dance; and the BFSU Chinese Orchestra performed the instrumental ensemble piece "I Return to This Place Again."

During the week, events included a field research sharing session, regional studies sub-forums, a China-ASEAN youth friendly sports competition, and an online showcase of the Lao language for university students.