Hou Mengwei

O n June 17， Lin Songtian， president of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， met with Claudia Yang， international art director of the Silk Road International Arts Center and a wellknown Malaysian Chinese pianist. Zhu Dan， director-general of the CPAFFCs Cultural Exchange Department， and Wang Longshe， secretary-general of the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development， attended the meeting.

Lin noted that China and ASEAN countries enjoy both geographical proximity and cultural affinity. To promote integrated development， common development and peoples well-being in the region， China and ASEAN have been engaged in high-quality cooperation via the Belt and Road Initiative and have jointly promoted the signing and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership， or RCEP. ASEAN countries are a priority in Chinas Belt and Road cooperation. The desired outcome in various fields is delivering tangible benefits to the people.

“This year marks the beginning of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and the formal implementation of the RCEP，” Lin said The CPAFFC is ready to make full use of our people-to-people diplomatic advantages to promote physical connectivity， institutional communication and people-to-people exchanges between China and ASEAN countries， and make new efforts for regional and world peace， stability， prosperity and development，” Lin said.

He said he appreciated Yangs commitment to promoting friendship between China and Malaysia and between the Chinese people and the people of the world. He recognized the active role of the Silk Road International Arts Center in the Belt and Road Great Wall International Folk Culture and Arts Festival.

“Culture and art can transcend language barriers and national boundaries to bring beautiful enjoyment and express the aspiration of people of all countries for a better life，” he said.

He expressed hope that Yang would play a unique role in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and cultural and people-topeople exchanges between China and countries along the Belt and Road routes， foster an atmosphere in which ASEAN and China are seen as one family and make new contributions to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Yang spoke highly of the great achievements China had made in fighting COVID-19 and in economic and social development， and she praised President Xi Jinpings vision in putting forward the Belt and Road Initiative and the remarkable results it had delivered to the people of all countries.

“China and Malaysia have a long history of exchanges. The Strait of Malacca still retains Bukit China， a sacred place in the hearts of Chinese Malaysians，” she said. “I am preparing an opera reflecting the earliest Chinese emigration to Southeast Asia and a concert of famous Chinese and ASEAN songs to enhance understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and the people of ASEAN countries. I want to work closely with the CPAFFC and make new contributions to enhancing friendship， understanding and trust between the people of China， ASEAN countries and the rest of the world.”