The 5th China-ASEAN Ethnic Cultural Forum takes place in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Dec 3. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 5th China-ASEAN Ethnic Cultural Forum took place in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Dec 3, gathering more than 100 attendees in both online and offline venues, including experts and scholars from countries like China, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, and Japan.

The forum was jointly hosted by the Guangxi Federation of Social Sciences, Guangxi University for Nationalities (GXUN), and the Guilin municipal people's government, focusing on pressing issues in the exchanges and innovative development of China-ASEAN ethnic culture.

Keynote speeches were delivered by guests including Colin Mackerras, professor emeritus at Griffith University in Australia, Zhou Daming, member of the Yangtze River Scholar Program, and Li Fuqiang, director of the ethnic research center from GXUN.

Zhao Leqin, secretary of the CPC Guilin municipal committee, speaks during the forum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhao Leqin, secretary of the CPC Guilin municipal committee, spoke highly of the previous forum's contribution to Guilin's cultural construction. He added that Guilin will continue to function as a China-ASEAN cultural hub and fully showcase the city's cultural charms.

Zhu Dong, chairman of the Guangxi Federation of Social Sciences, added that the forum has promoted the close communication between China and ASEAN countries through ethnic culture.