Experts and officials have called for closer cultural exchanges between Chinese youths and their counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to forge deepened mutual understanding and cooperation and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

The All-China Youth Federation organized an international youth dialogue focusing on inter-civilization mutual learning in Dunhuang in the northwestern province of Gansu on Sunday. The dialogue was a side event of the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which started on Saturday and ended on Monday.

Wang Yi, vice-president of the All-China Youth Federation, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the dialogue, saying the world needs strengthened communications and cooperation among different countries and cultures. She called for youths from different countries and regions to respect the diversity of civilizations and engage in closer cultural exchanges to promote harmonious coexistence of different civilizations.

She hoped that youths from China and ASEAN member states can work together to practice the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative and contribute their strength to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Wang Bing, vice-governor of Gansu province, said that China and ASEAN member states are neighbors with strong cultural ties and share weal and woe, so he urged youths from China and ASEAN member states to play active roles in promoting and pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative and to contribute their strength in economic and cultural exchanges to let countries and regions involved in the BRI ensure a better future with peace, development, cooperation and win-win results.

The dialogue attracted about 70 youth representatives from China and ASEAN member states. They discussed topics — including promoting inter-civilizational communication by using digital technologies — at the dialogue and reached agreement on enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation through cultural exchanges.