NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHINA AND ASEAN IN THE EYES OF JOURNALISTS

The year 2016 is of great significance for the development of China-ASEAN relations. The ASEAN Community was officially launched at the turn of the new year， echoing the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between the two sides， as well as the ASEANChina Year of Educational Exchange. Notably， Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Cambodia this October pushed ChinaASEAN relations to new heights.

For the purpose of promoting the understanding of China’s economic and social development， strengthening the recognition of the Belt and Road Initiative and consolidating cooperation and exchanges between China and ASEAN member states， 15 ASEAN journalists from mainstream media were invited to visit China’s Jiangsu and Yunnan provinces as part of the China-ASEAN Media Journey on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road 2016 from Oct. 19-28. The event was co-sponsored by China’s State Council Information Office and the ASEAN-China Center， and organized by China Report Press under the China International Publishing Group.