ASEAN and China kicked off celebrations, cooperative activities and initiatives for this year’s ASEAN-China Year of Media Exchanges by launching a cultural documentary featuring Indonesia on 14 January 2019 in Jakarta.

Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN and country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations in Jakarta, noted that the cultural documentary Dan’s Way: Indonesia was an appropriate platform to launch the Year of ASEAN-China Media Exchanges.

She emphasized that the cultural documentary featured not only the strength of media cooperation but, more importantly, cultural promotion and people-to-people exchanges, which are key pillars of strengthening mutual trust and understanding between ASEAN Member States and China.

“Media will continue to be an important partner in our collaborative efforts to raise the profile of ASEAN-China strategic partnership and convey the mutually-beneficial gains of this enduring relationship to our peoples and to the international community,” Ambassador Buensuceso remarked at the Dan’s Way launching ceremony.

Ambassador Buensuceso added that “media have both the power and responsibility to connect peoples and build bridges for understanding and appreciation based on our shared stories and experiences.”

Dan’s Way, which was produced by Beijing Eleven Media Co. Ltd., News Documentary Film, and Shanghai Dragon Lord Pictures Co. Ltd and hosted by Chinese presenter Zhu Dan, is a documentary series featuring the peoples, cultures, iconic landmarks and traditions of all ASEAN Member States. After the Indonesian screening, the Dan’s Way team will travel to the Philippines for the next edition of the cultural documentary.

Ambassador Buensuceso said that as country coordinator, the Philippine Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta will work with the Chinese Mission to ASEAN and all ASEAN Member States to ensure that all activities for the Year of ASEAN-China Media Exchanges will bear substantive results and outcomes.

Director-General Jose Tavares, ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader of Indonesia, and China’s Ambassador to ASEAN Huang Xilian, who delivered statements at the launching ceremony, both noted the excellent status of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, saying that activities lined up for the Year of ASEAN-China Media Exchanges will promote people-to-people exchanges and further elevate the ASEAN-China strategic partnership to a higher level. END