From 22 to 26 June, 2024, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and China International Communications Group (CICG) co-sponsored a familiarization trip in Shandong Province themed "Rediscovering Shandong: Tradition and Innovation". Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC accompanied over 40 guests, including Vice Minister Phosy Keomanivong of Information, Culture, and Tourism of Laos, Undersecretary Has Sam Ath of Information of Cambodia, Ambassador Jamie A. FlorCruz of the Philippines to China and other representatives from the Embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS) and ASEAN media, on various field visits to Jinan, Dezhou, Tai'an and Qufu of Shandong Province. The participants were impressed by Shandong's high-quality development in an all-around manner, the profound Confucian culture of China, and development of China through the perspective from Shandong. 

 

 
 
 

 

 

       The tour of Shandong took the ASEAN guests to some key enterprises such as Shandong Heavy Industry Group Company Limited, experiencing the remarkable transformation of the Chinese enterprises from "Made in China" to "Smart Manufacturing in China". They also visited the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Modern Agricultural Comprehensive Service Center in Qihe County of Dezhou City, gaining a deeper understanding of China's agricultural modernization and discovering new stories of cooperation between ASEAN and China in such areas as agriculture and traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, they visited Shandong Radio and Television Media Group to share application of up-to-date mass media technologies, and witness the growth of China's integrated media platforms and media-related innovations.

 

 

 

      The delegation left their footprints on the top of Mount Tai and the banks of Daming Lake, admiring the natural beauty of Shandong Province. They also experienced the charm of the Chinese calligraphy in the birthplace of Confucian culture, exploring the spiritual essence of the Chinese civilization.

 

 
 
 

 

 

      ASEAN media friends spoke highly of their trip in Shandong and viewed it as a best interpretation of traditional culture and modern civilization in Shandong. The Shandong version of China’s modernization really encouraging and inspiring. They all expressed their willingness to record and share what they have seen, heard and felt with the peoples from their countries, so as to get them a better understanding of a real, vivid and friendly China. They also look forward to more such FAM trips and reporting tours to be sponsored by the ACC in the future, which will definitely contribute to people-to-people exchanges and amity between ASEAN and China.