On September 19, the launching ceremony of Acceleration Week for China-ASEAN Youth Development Programs was held in Nanning, Guangxi. About 120 participants, including heads of youth organizations and delegates of youth development programs from China and ASEAN member countries, attended the event. A Dong, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China; Chen Gang, Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; and Thongloun Sisoulith, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, were present and delivered addresses.

A Dong stated that youth development is closely connected with the progress of human society and the modernization drive of all countries. We should act on the important propositions and initiatives put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping, further carry out youth exchange programs, and work together to advance youth development. We will build a beautiful homeland with youthful dreams, strengthen practical cooperation to boost development integration with youthful wisdom, deepen cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and foster good-neighborly friendship through youth-to-youth ties, so as to inject enduring youthful momentum into building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Chen Gang noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “the future of China and ASEAN belongs to the youth”. Faced with profound changes unseen in a century across the world, young people should stay committed to forging ahead together. In the age of artificial intelligence, young people should make good use of AI as this “key”. Confronted with “involution-style” competition, young people should blaze new trails with the courage of innovation and creation. Guangxi stands ready to serve as a fertile ground for young people to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship, helping all move forward hand in hand and achieve the best version of themselves in this great era.

Thongloun Sisoulith said that the Acceleration Week for China-ASEAN Youth Development Programs serves as a valuable platform for young people to exchange ideas, share experiences and jointly shape new visions for the future. Young people today are not only inheritors of the future, but also active participants who shape and create it. Against the backdrop of rapid shifts in global and regional landscapes, youth development and efforts to strengthen China-ASEAN relations should be regarded as sustained endeavors of strategic significance.

The launching ceremony featured a special session named “Youth Action”. Outstanding young representatives from China and ASEAN member countries took the stage to present and share the latest achievements of youth innovation and entrepreneurship around four themes: green production and low-carbon technologies, artificial intelligence, integrated cultural and tourism development, and media innovation. At the ceremony, the 2026 List of Intentions for Cooperation on AI Scenario Application between China (Guangxi) and ASEAN Youth was released.

2026 marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Acceleration Week for China-ASEAN Youth Development Programs is one of the commemorative events for this anniversary. Over 50 youth development programs have been selected for the Acceleration Week from China and ASEAN countries. Through mentor coaching, program roadshows, case sharing and partnership meeting, the event promotes exemplary projects supporting global development and youth development, builds a youth pioneer community for sustainable development, and advances practical cooperation on youth development between China and ASEAN.

During the Acceleration Week, A Dong, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, held bilateral exchanges respectively with Thongloun Sisoulith, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union; Chhin Bunnara, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of Cambodian People’s Party Central Youth, and other heads of youth organizations from ASEAN countries, to discuss youth cooperation.

Under the theme of “Together for Youth Development and Shared Opportunities”, the Acceleration Week is hosted by the All-China Youth Federation, and co-organized by China Youth Daily, the Youth Federation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Youth Federation of Hainan Province, and China (Guangxi) International Youth Exchange College. During the event, youth delegates from China and ASEAN countries visit Nanning in Guangxi and Haikou in Hainan, participate in events including the Acceleration Week China-ASEAN Youth Development Partnership Meeting, and conduct in-depth exchanges and discussions on key topics. They will also visit the exhibition hall of the China-ASEAN Expo, Nanning Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, China-ASEAN Countries Artificial Intelligence Application Cooperation Center, Hainan Free Trade Port Achievement Exhibition Hall, Hainan Science and Technology Museum, Hainan University and other sites.