Hosted recently by the Chinese Mission to ASEAN and Xinhua News Agency, the tour brought together more than 20 representatives from mainstream media outlets and online influencers from ASEAN member states. The delegation travelled across Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Qingyuan, visiting China Southern Power Grid substations, rural revitalisation demonstration sites, robot boulevards and big data centres.

The programme also included participation in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Digital and Intelligent Economy Sustainable Development Innovation Week.

For the participants, each visit offered a different perspective on China’s development. From advanced energy infrastructure and digital technologies to the transformation of rural communities, the tour provided first-hand opportunities to see how innovation is being applied to everyday life and economic development.

The delegation members showed strong enthusiasm throughout the programme, actively participating in interactive activities and sharing their experiences through live coverage. Behind the cameras and reports, however, another important story was unfolding – one of communication, cultural exchange and friendship.

Although the participants came from different countries and spoke different languages, their shared curiosity and professional interests created common ground. Conversations during visits, exchanges of ideas and shared experiences helped turn the tour into more than a media programme. It became an opportunity for people from different backgrounds to understand one another more closely.

The visits also gave ASEAN media representatives a deeper understanding of China’s innovative industrial development and experience in rural revitalisation. Seeing these developments first-hand allowed them to move beyond information obtained through reports and gain a more direct impression of the country’s transformation.

The tour also enabled participants to experience the vibrant energy surrounding the APEC China Year and gain a better understanding of China’s growing digital and intelligent economy.

For ASEAN media professionals, the experience provided a broader perspective on the potential for closer and more integrated development between China and ASEAN. The rapid development of technology, infrastructure and new industries demonstrated during the tour highlighted areas where greater cooperation and exchange could create opportunities for both sides.

“I’m very happy to join the 2026 China Media Tour, held by the Chinese Mission to ASEAN, to visit dynamic Guangdong. This was my first time here, and it left a lasting impression on me, from the beautiful countryside of Qingxin District in Qingyuan to the vibrant energy of cities such as Guangzhou, Dongguan and Shenzhen,” said Phan Thu Huyen, a journalist from Vietnam.

“I came away with so many ideas that our ASEAN countries could adapt, from revitalising rural communities to bringing AI and robotics into agriculture and manufacturing.

“But more than anything, what touched me most was the warmth and genuine friendship I found among my fellow ASEAN colleagues along the way. As this journey came to an end, I felt that it marked the beginning of a deeper friendship and long-term cooperation between Southeast Asia and our hospitable hosts in China,” she said.

The programme was also part of commemorative activities marking the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, giving the tour significance beyond its professional and educational objectives.

For many participants, one of the most memorable aspects was the human connection created along the way. Shared meals, conversations, group activities and moments of discovery created friendships that did not depend on speaking the same language.

In this sense, “friendship without language borders” became one of the most meaningful impressions of the journey. While journalism was the common profession that brought the participants together, mutual respect, curiosity and shared experiences helped build connections that extended beyond the formal programme.

The participants expressed their hope of strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and ASEAN, particularly in the media sector and other fields. They also looked forward to further opportunities to exchange experiences, deepen mutual understanding and contribute to closer ties between the peoples of China and ASEAN.

Ultimately, the Dynamic Guangdong tour was not only about what the participants learned from China. It was also about what they shared with one another – stories, perspectives, cultures and friendships.

And perhaps that is what made the journey an impression beyond learning: when people meet, listen and experience something together, friendship can cross borders even when words cannot.

KPL