ASEAN and China Are Celebrating A Year of Cultural Exchange

The opening ceremony of 2014 ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year was held on 7 April 2014 at Beijing New Tsinghua Xuetang. ASEAN Ambassadors in Beijing, ACC Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang as well as colleagues from ASEAN Embassies in Beijing and ACC officers attended the opening ceremony.

The theme of the year-long exchange is "Our Culture, Our Future". The logo of the 2014 ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year combines the two letters C and A, initials of China and ASEAN, together to form a heart shape, representing the solidarity and friendship between China and ASEAN.

"At this new historical point heralding the second decade of China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, China and ASEAN will be facing a new beginning. The Chinese government places high importance to its good neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with ASEAN, and hopes to see that the Cultural Exchange Year will showcase the rich fruits of China- ASEAN people-to-people exchange for the world to see, highlight our prominent cultural and art achievements, and help build a broader platform for the friendly collaborations among Chinese and ASEAN artists and peoples."

An excerpt from the Congratulatory Message of H.E. Mr. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China,
at the Opening Ceremony of 2014 ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year