On February 2, 2024, the opening ceremony of the 2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges was held in Fuzhou City of Fujian Province. State Councilor Shen Yiqin attended the opening ceremony, read Premier Li Qiang's congratulatory letter and delivered remarks.

Shen Yiqin said that over the past 10 years and more, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and leaders of ASEAN countries, China and ASEAN have written a new chapter in practical and friendly cooperation and their people-to-people and cultural exchanges have achieved a series of fruitful results, which have become a vivid example of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Shen Yiqin stressed that it is necessary to uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, further deepen people-to-people exchanges in culture, tourism, education, youth, sports, women and other fields, consolidate the foundation of mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, advance inclusiveness and mutual learning, continuously enhance the breadth, depth and popularity of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and build a closer bond between people of the two sides, build an amicable home together, and add vitality to the China-ASEAN cooperation.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune read the congratulatory letter of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and delivered remarks.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, guided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the People's Government of Fujian Province. ASEAN countries' political dignitaries, diplomatic envoys, heads of friendly organizations and representatives from various fields including the economic sector, think tanks, media outlets and sister cities were present.

On the day of the opening ceremony, Shen Yiqin had a group meeting with ASEAN countries' political dignitaries, and held a bilateral meeting with Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune.