Exchanges between China and Southeast Asian countries have intensified since China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries starting boosting political, trade and cultural ties in 2003.
Trade between China and ASEAN has exceeded 400 billion yuan (about 65 billion U.S. dollars), making China ASEAN's biggest trade partner. [ "However, people-to-people communication is still weak compared with frequent official contact between China and Southeast Asian nations," said Li Jinjun, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and executive vice president of CNIE.
"It's necessary for us to strengthen direct contact among our people to enhance understanding and trust," he said.
Noppamest Suwannamai, a researcher at the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Center in Bangkok, said uniting NGOs in China and Southeast Asia is a good way to enhance people-to-people communication.
But he said many NGOs do not have enough personnel and funds, adding that governments should step up efforts to boost communication between NGOs.
Zhang Xinsheng, honorary vice president of CNIE, said people-to-people dialogue should focus on local governments, women, young people and ethnic groups, adding that such contact will complement official contact.
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