The launch ceremony of the fourth ASEAN-China Friendship and Cooperation Short Video Contest is held online and offline on 14 September (COURTESY) 

With the theme Connection for a Better Future, the fourth ASEAN-China Friendship and Cooperation Short Video Contest kicked off in Beijing on 14 September both online and offline. The competition, co-sponsored by the Mission of China to ASEAN, the Permanent Mission of Myanmar to ASEAN, ASEAN Secretariat, National Radio and Television Administration of China, China International Communications Group (CICG), the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, and the Information Office of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Government, aims to provide a platform for people from China and ASEAN member countries to communicate through short videos. 

Growing popularity 

For Ekkaphab Phanthavong, deputy secretary general of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, the ASEAN-China Short Video Contest has been a resounding success since its inaugural edition in 2020. In total, the competition has attracted 72,485 entries from young video creators from China and the 10 ASEAN members. These works have garnered almost 95 million views on Weibo, Kuaishou, Facebook, Youtube and other social platforms, generating 300 million discussions among netizens. “This is a testament to the richness and vitality of China-ASEAN relations. It also reflects the great enthusiasm of the people on both sides to dedicate themselves to ASEAN-China friendly cooperation and mutual understanding,” said Phanthavong. 

In retrospect, previous award-winning entries have highlighted the vision of building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together. They shed light on the longstanding friendship between China and ASEAN members, showcase the pragmatic cooperation between the two sides and focus on joint efforts to fight the pandemic. 

In last year’s contest, Millennia “Pauk-Phaw” Friendship has been nominated for the gold medal. Phyo Phyo Myint, a producer at MITV, Myanmar Radio and Television, told a story about collaboration between Chinese and Myanmar experts for the restoration of the Thabyinnyu Temple in Bagan, Myanmar. In 2016, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake severely affected this UNESCO World Heritage cultural area, which is of historical significance for the Myanmar people.

After conducting surveys and collecting data about the earthquake impact on 21 Bagan pagodas and temples, the Chinese expert teams proposed to provide urgently needed assistance to Thatbyinnyu Temple, which was approved by Myanmar experts and the earthquake committee. To conduct this 10-year restoration project, Chinese expert teams visited Bagan several times and set out work plans from assessment to the design and restoration without losing the original work of art. “Through this video competition, we hope to foster excellent cooperation among the people of ASEAN countries and China and strengthen mutual trust,” said Myint at the launch ceremony. 

A still from the third ASEAN-China Friendship and Cooperation Short Video Contest Gold Award winning video, Millennia “Pauk-Phaw” Friendship (SCREENSHOT) 

Stories of friendship 

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposal of building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. “It is just the right time for us to launch this year’s contest now,” said Hou Yanqi, ambassador of China to ASEAN, in her speech at the ceremony. According to her, countless good stories about friendship and cooperation between China and ASEAN are waiting to be told and deserve to be recorded with cameras and fully displayed on screens. 

In fact, China and ASEAN countries have made fruitful achievements through mutually beneficial cooperation and joint development. The bilateral trade volume reached more than $970 billion last year, more than double that of 10 years ago, and cumulative two-way investment exceeded $380 billion. Practical cooperation in such areas as trade and economy, infrastructure, science and technology, agriculture, poverty reduction, digital economy and new energy have greatly improved the lives of a combined 2 billion people on both sides, noted Hou. 

Her opinion was echoed by Aung Myo Myint, permanent representative of Myanmar to ASEAN. “The 2023 ASEAN-China Short Video Contest is even more significant as it leads the way to ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges in next year, which aims to foster cooperation in areas including culture, education, youth affairs, tourism and sports, and to deepen people-to-people ties,” he said at the ceremony. 

On 6 September, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, while attending the 26th China-ASEAN Summit, pointed out that over the past 10 years, China and ASEAN have forged ahead hand in hand and contributed to each other’s successes, embarking on the right path featuring longstanding good-neighbourliness and shared progress and prosperity. The two sides have joined hands to overcome severe natural disasters, financial crises and other major crises and catastrophes. A large number of people go to each other’s countries to work, study, do business and travel every year. 

Aung Myo Myint said, “I believe that this ASEAN-China Short Video Contest will contribute to the success of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges as well.” 

New media ecology 

At present, digital technology has changed the traditional media ecology, and the openness of the Internet and short video gives the “audience” a dual role – both consumers and creators of content, Lu Cairong, vice president of CICG, highlighted in his speech at the ceremony. According to him, young people are the main users of short videos, and the more than 800 million young people in China and ASEAN play an important role in the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. “With the help of the Internet and short videos, we can better share and record the wonderful stories of China-ASEAN friendly cooperation,” he said. 

Phanthavong agreed. With 75.6 percent and 73.7 percent of ASEAN and Chinese citizens using Internet, there is a broad adoption of new media and digital platforms, he said. According to him, more than 80 percent of the Internet usage globally involves audio-visual content, thus, the ASEAN-China Short Video Contest is an important instrument to reach out to online users. “This, in particular, will support ASEAN and China in expanding public outreach and fostering greater awareness of the ASEAN-China relations,” he added, “especially of the benefits of practical cooperation, intercultural exchanges, and communications, as well as other key issues pertaining to social and human development.” 

The contest has two sections: Section A includes videos on the themes of Nurture Nature for Nurturing Future; Charming Silk Road, Our Stories; Falling in Love with ASEAN and China; and Innovation and Digital Life; while Section B is themed People-to-People Exchanges between ASEAN and China. 

Video creators, enthusiasts, social media anchors, and vloggers from ASEAN countries and China are called to actively participate and contribute to the success of the competition.