Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of 2019 China-ASEAN Year of Media Exchanges,which was held in Beijing on February 20.

The letter was read aloud by Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, at the opening ceremony.

China and ASEAN countries, as close neighbors linked by cultural bonds and a long history of friendly exchanges, have deepened strategic communication in recent years, Xi noted.

The two sides have invested joint efforts in constructing the Belt and Road, advancing people-to-people exchanges, astutely handling differences and safeguarding regional stability,he added.

Proclaiming that China-ASEAN relations have entered a new phase of all-around development, Xi stressed that the launch of the China-ASEAN Year of Media Exchanges represents an important step toward intensifying their strategic partnership.

The opening ceremony of 2019 China-ASEAN Year of Media Exchanges.

“As a bridge in promoting communication,cooperation and people-to-people contact,media can play an even greater role in the development of China-ASEAN ties,” said the Chinese president.

He expressed hope that media from both sides serve as messengers of friendly exchanges,facilitators of pragmatic cooperation, guardians of harmonious coexistence and deft story-tellers of tales of peace and development, making great contributions to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Huang, also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, met some distinguished guests from ASEAN prior to the opening ceremony.