ASEAN-China Sports Cooperation: Connecting Communities and Moving Towards a Sustainable Future

On October 15, in Hanoi, the 4th ASEAN + China Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS + China) was held within the framework of the 8th ASEAN Sports Ministers Meeting.

Speaking at the Conference, Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Department emphasized that in recent years, China has maintained and organized many exchange, cooperation and knowledge sharing activities in the field of sports to enhance dialogue, coordination and promotion of sports policy between ASEAN and China.

Overview of the conference

The projects and plans implemented are not only sports playgrounds, but also bridges of cultural exchange, contributing to enhancing understanding, building trust and friendship between people of different countries.

"The direction of cooperation between China and ASEAN through mass sports and sports science research is the basis for sustainable development. Always considering and putting people at the center, through cooperation, jointly developing in the fields of culture, sports and society to contribute to promoting people's welfare and happiness, improving health for all people is the foundation and is considered the top priority in development through sports," said Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh.

According to Ms. Wang Xiao Yin - Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Department (General Administration of Sports of China), since the establishment of ASEAN - China dialogue relations in 1991, the two sides have made many important progress together. Political trust has been strengthened, people-to-people exchanges have been expanded and substantive cooperation in many fields, including sports, has become the foundation for promoting regional peace , stability and prosperity.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Department spoke at the conference

The biggest milestone in bilateral cooperation is the establishment of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021, opening up a deeper and more comprehensive framework for cooperation. Since then, sports have been identified as an important pillar of people-to-people exchanges, helping to foster friendship and connect communities.

Within the framework of SOMS+ China, many cooperation projects have been implemented synchronously and brought about clear results. A typical example is the "ASEAN Sports Zones" initiative, which is considered a symbol of regional sports cooperation. Entering 2025, the year of ASEAN-China People-to-People Exchange, China affirms: Sports is a bridge connecting people, fostering friendship and mutual understanding.

The cooperation orientation for the period 2026-2030 between ASEAN and China is determined according to 3 major focuses. In particular, focusing on enhancing sports exchanges and preserving traditional sports cultural heritage. Expanding the "ASEAN Sports Zones" initiative to Phase III. The new phase will have the participation of Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, with a focus on strengthening the monitoring, reporting and evaluation mechanism for effectiveness, ensuring financial and social sustainability and the ability to replicate the model in other cities.

Promoting sports cooperation as a form of people-to-people diplomacy. Sports is seen as an effective means to strengthen ties between cultures, strengthen political trust and contribute to regional peace and stability.

In addition, the Conference also reviewed preparations for the 2nd ASEAN+China Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS+China), which is expected to adopt a Joint Statement and Provisional Agenda on October 17, creating a basis for cooperation in the next phase.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/hop-tac-the-thao-asean-trung-quoc-ket-noi-cong-dong-va-huong-toi-tuong-lai-ben-vung-20251015172148449.htm