ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Sports: For Peace, Prosperity and Humanity

Sports - a bridge connecting ASEAN and China

In his welcome speech, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong affirmed: ASEAN-China sports cooperation has achieved many remarkable results in recent times, especially in professional exchange, training capacity improvement, community sports development and school sports. The cooperation activities have contributed to strengthening friendship, mutual understanding and creating a foundation for harmonious development among countries in the region.

ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Sports: For Peace, Prosperity and Humanity - Photo 1.

The 2nd ASEAN-China Sports Ministers Meeting within the framework of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports

PHOTO: Organizing Committee

Highly appreciating China's initiatives in supporting the training of coaches and athletes, organizing training courses, sports exchange programs and cultural and sports exchange activities. Vietnam acknowledged China's successful experiences in organizing major international sports events such as the Beijing Olympics and the Asian Games, considering these useful models for ASEAN to learn from, especially in event management, organization and professional sports development.

Vietnam highly appreciates China’s close and effective cooperation in recent times and acknowledges the practical results in various fields. On that basis, Vietnam proposes three key cooperation initiatives for the 2025-2030 period:

Strengthen cooperation in developing sports human resources - building a network of ASEAN - China Sports Training and Research Centers, expanding scholarships and expert exchange programs.

ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Sports: For Peace, Prosperity and Humanity - Photo 2.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong (left) chaired the conference.

PHOTO: Organizing Committee

Promote ASEAN-China youth sports through tournaments, summer camps, and student sports exchanges, contributing to nurturing a dynamic and cohesive young generation.

Promoting cultural and heritage values in sports - combining the promotion of traditional sports such as wushu, tai chi, sepak takraw, and chess, while developing sports tourism and media cooperation.

Vietnam also emphasized the importance of digital transformation in sports, especially in management, athlete data, sports medicine and competition organization, considering this the key to improving cooperation efficiency in the new era.

Co-chairing the conference, Li Jing, Deputy Director General of the General Administration of Sport of China, emphasized the long-standing friendship and comprehensive cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, considering ASEAN as a leading important partner in its neighborly foreign policy. Sports was identified as a field with great influence, playing a bridging role in enhancing understanding, solidarity and cooperation between the people of the two sides.

China expressed its desire to promote sports cooperation based on the spirit of "joint cooperation and common development", affirming that it will continue to share experiences and support ASEAN in training coaches, developing community sports, school sports and high-performance sports. At the same time, China proposed to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and organize joint sports events, especially traditional sports, to promote cultural identity and regional solidarity.

ASEAN-China Joint Statement: Sports as a Bridge for Peace and Development

With high consensus, member countries adopted the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Sports Cooperation, affirming that sports is an effective means to promote regional peace, understanding and cooperation, contributing to strengthening the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

The joint statement emphasized five key orientations in cooperation in the coming period:

Establishment of an ASEAN-China Sports Cooperation Mechanism - A Strategic Guiding Framework for Cooperation Programmes, aligned with the ASEAN-China Plan of Action on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and in line with the ASEAN Plan of Action on Sports 2026-2030.

Promote people-to-people exchanges through sports, enhance the spirit of fair play, respect cultural diversity and connect regional communities. Develop professional sports capacity, expand training opportunities for coaches, referees, managers, and sports professionals. Build healthy and sustainable lifestyles, encourage community sports, focusing on people with disabilities, women and youth.

Encourage ASEAN-China sports cooperation projects, notably the "ASEAN Sports Zone" - a model for connecting infrastructure, youth exchange and organizing joint events.

In particular, the joint statement reaffirmed the spirit of "One ASEAN - One China: cooperation, dynamism and innovation for a common prosperous future", demonstrating the long-term vision of the two sides in building an open, peaceful and sustainable Asian sports community.

The conference acknowledged the initial achievements of ASEAN-China sports cooperation. Joint projects such as the "ASEAN Sports Zone" have completed phase 1 in Cambodia and Indonesia; and are preparing to expand phase 2 in Laos, Brunei, Myanmar and Thailand. This is considered the first regional sports network connecting infrastructure and the ASEAN-China sports community.

In addition, the two sides continue to cooperate in sports science research, preserving traditional sports and developing school sports, towards a healthy and inclusive society.

The Chinese representative expressed his commitment to continue supporting diverse cooperation projects, from organizing training courses, exchanging athletes and coaches, to popularizing traditional martial arts - especially the "International Tai Chi Day" initiative, which will be considered for approval by UNESCO by the end of 2025. This is a new symbol of the spirit of Asian cultural and sports exchanges.

Towards a dynamic and sustainable ASEAN-China Community

The general spirit of the conference is encapsulated in the message: "Sports is a bridge for peace, understanding and cooperation". The two sides agreed to promote cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual respect and shared benefits, in order to respond to global challenges and together build a stable and prosperous region.

The meeting also congratulated Timor Leste's participation as an observer, opening up prospects for expanding cooperation in the future, and agreed that Cambodia and China will co-chair the 3rd ASEAN + China Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS+China 3) in 2027.

Also at the conference, ministers and heads of delegations from member countries expressed their deep gratitude to Vietnam - the host country of AMMS, along with the ASEAN Secretariat and China - co-hosts, for successfully organizing the event, contributing to bringing ASEAN - China sports relations to a stage of comprehensive, substantive and future-oriented cooperation.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-bo-chung-asean-trung-quoc-ve-the-thao-vi-su-hoa-binh-thinh-vuong-va-nhan-van-185251017170127281.htm