China-SE Asia people-to-people dialogue urged

NANNING - Delegates from China and Southeast Asian countries are calling for more people-to-people communication at an ongoing conference in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said China is willing to work with prosperity.

Organized by the China NGO Network for International Exchange (CNIE), a national non-profit social organization, the two-day conference is being attended by delegates from 11 Southeast Asian countries.

Liu's views were echoed by delegates attending the event. Political figures, scholars and entrepreneurs voiced strong support for more exchanges between China and Southeast Asia.

Ung Huot, former first prime minister of Cambodia, said  people-to-people communication will create a win-win situation for China and Southeast Asian nations.

"Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Cambodia are having exchanges with those in China. I strongly encourage this because it will contribute to our common prosperity," he said.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a senator from the Philippines, said people-to-people dialogue is an important way to solve conflicts.

He said it is necessary to enhance non-governmental exchanges between China and the Philippines in the areas of tourism, education and health care.

Sidney C Bata, director of the Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies at Ateneo de Manila University, said Chinese culture has had a great influence on many Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.

He said young people in the Philippines do not know China very well, adding that there is an urgent need for both countries to encourage communication among young people.

Exchanges between China and Southeast Asian countries have intensified since China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries starting boosting political, trade and cultural ties in 2003.

Trade between China and ASEAN has exceeded 400 billion yuan (about 65 billion US dollars), making China ASEAN's biggest trade partner.

"However, people-to-people communication is still weak compared with frequent official contact between China and Southeast Asian nations," said Li Jinjun, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and executive vice president of CNIE.

"It's necessary for us to strengthen direct contact among our people to enhance understanding and trust," he said.

Noppamest Suwannamai, a researcher at the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Center in Bangkok, said uniting NGOs in China and Southeast Asia is a good way to enhance people-to-people communication.

But he said many NGOs do not have enough personnel and funds, adding that governments should step up efforts to boost communication between NGOs.

Zhang Xinsheng, honorary vice president of CNIE, said people-to-people dialogue should focus on local governments, women, young people and ethnic groups, adding that such contact will complement official contact.