Influencers from ASEAN countries dance joyfully in the Qilou Old Street in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province. Photo: Courtesy of HNTV

How can influencers contribute to bringing China and ASEAN countries closer together? As part of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, influencers from 10 ASEAN countries with a total of nearly 100 million followers traveled to Sanya, Lingshui and Qionghai, among other places, in South China's Hainan Province, over the last week to discover China's development from this picturesque island. They shared their personal stories and experiences in China through videos they made, fostering friendly exchanges and solidarity between China and ASEAN. 

 

From interviews with several influencers from ASEAN, reporters from the Global Times learned about their efforts to promote exchanges between China and ASEAN countries and the benefits of China-ASEAN cooperation.

 

Becoming ambassadors of goodwill

 

Shi Zhongjun, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre, said at the conference that just as a lush canopy needs strong roots, the friendship between ASEAN and China cannot go far without the solid support of both peoples. 

 

Influencers are the best standing testimony to the current blossoming of ASEAN-China relations, and they can become ambassadors of goodwill to present the real story of win-win cooperation between ASEAN and China to the international community, while gathering positive energy for regional development to convey to the world the confidence of ASEAN and China in cooperation and development in a truthful, accurate and comprehensive manner, Shi said.

 

The first stop of the influencers’ trip was the Haikou Fullsing Internet Industrial Park in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), where they gained a detailed understanding of the development prospects, key industry directions, tax incentives, as well as the scale and layout of the Hainan FTP. 

 

Hainan FTP enjoys favorable policies, a great environment and a highly potential tourism consumption market that deserves to be known by more people, Shantay, an influencer from Singapore, told the Global Times. “Some of my followers are businessmen, and numerous companies in my country are keen on investing in China. I believe that if I share videos on social media, it will be highly appealing to them,” Shantay said.

 

Influencers also explored several traditional attractions in Hainan, experienced Chinese craftsmanship and enjoyed local delicacies.

 

They strolled on the Qilou Old Street in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, where rows of buildings encompass a blend of architectural styles. The influencers were in good spirits, snapping pictures while walking, and even dancing joyfully on the street.

 

"I feel it's a pity that many Malaysians don’t know such a wonderful destination featuring Southeast Asian style in China. I can’t wait to share this journey with my followers through my camera," Malaysian influencer Rosshanaz told the Global Times, adding that people from ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore will resonate strongly with this attraction.

 

In the Betel Nut Valley, or Binglang Valley, a large park dedicated to Hainan Li and Miao minority culture, the influencers from ASEAN countries watched a Li and Mao ethnic culture-themed performance with large-scale and original ecological features and applauded the performers for their wonderful performance. They also experienced the rhythm of the Bamboo Dance of the Li ethnic group and enjoyed the delicious cuisine of the Li ethnic group.

 

The profound cultural heritage and diverse interactive experiences offered the influencers a vibrant and dynamic source of creative inspiration.

 

Rosshanaz said that she is pleasantly surprised to see how well China's traditional culture is preserved and how effectively its history is passed down. China and Malaysia share many similarities in traditions and customs. Therefore, she hopes that the people of Malaysia can strengthen communication with China, which will help in the preservation of Malaysian culture and promote cultural exchange between the two nations, Rosshanaz added.

 

Shantay said she is always longing to try traditional Chinese dresses, and this experience in the Betel Nut Valley gave her the perfect opportunity. “My followers are predominantly females, and they are all very interested in beautiful clothing and fashion. I believe that once I post my video, many people will come to experience traditional attire of Li ethnic group,” Shantay told the Global Times.

 

"I have always believed that food is the quickest way to foster connections between people of different nationalities and an effective means to bridge distances. I often share my food-tasting stories on social media, so I am confident that the unique cuisine of the Li ethnic group will become a new trend," Muangphum Harnsiripetch, known as Han Bing in China, a Thai influencer who previously studied at Nanjing University, told the Global Times.

 

The Best of Both Sides

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted in July’s ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting that China and ASEAN, who are friendly neighbors and close partners, have seen the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future being steady and fruitful, benefiting 2 billion people on the two sides while greatly promoting common development, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

 

Han said that for him, the greatest benefit of China-ASEAN cooperation is the visa-free policy between China and Thailand. The visa waiver has made it easier for people to travel between the two countries, said Han, which has also boosted personal exchanges between both countries.

 

For her part, Bella, an internet influencer from Vietnam, said she has benefited considerably from the cooperation between China and Vietnam in the field of education. “Studying in China will bring a lot of opportunities, it is the cooperation between countries that makes educational exchanges possible.”

 

Like what Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a video address to the conference, influencers are the ones who are best at telling engaging stories on the internet and social media. They have a unique and irreplaceable role in promoting mutual understanding among people of different countries. In this very era we live in, we expect more influencers to share more stories about the friendly exchanges between ordinary people of China and ASEAN countries, delivering more positive energy to consolidate and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.