The China-Southeast Asia High-Level People-to-People Dialogue Conference convened Monday in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Liu Qibao, a member of the Political Bureau and minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, delivers a speech at the China-Southeast Asia High-Level People-to-People Dialogue Conference in Nanning, May 3, 2013. [Gong Yingchun/China.org.cn]

Hundreds of people, including politicians, academics and representatives of business agencies, nongovernmental organizations as well as news agencies participated in the event.

China and Southeastern countries are neighbors and good friends, and they are becoming a whole with a common destiny, said Liu Qibao, a member of the Political Bureau and minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, in his opening speech.

"The trend of this new era - namely peace, development and win-win cooperation has been strengthened as the whole world is changing in a complicated way," said Liu. "China is willing to cooperate with Southeast Asian countries and their people to establish a region with sustainable peace and common prosperity," said Liu.

Liu said China's new leaders proposed 'The Chinese Dream,' a peaceful and civilized way to achieve national prosperity, national rejuvenation and the happiness of people.

"This new strategic idea is similar to the common and wholehearted dream of people in both China and Southeast Asian countries, which will not only be beneficial to Chinese people but also will bring new opportunities for the peaceful development of Southeast Asian countries and the whole world," said Liu.

Liu made four proposals for developing new types of foreign relationships with neighboring countries: share achievements, insist on making progress together, consolidate the basis of national relationships, and encourage solidarity and mutual trust.

Li Jinjun, president of the Network for International Exchanges, was also present at the opening ceremony. He said the People to People Dialogue responded to the call for more communication and cooperation between people in China and Southeast Asian countries, and it also provided a new stage for China and Southeast Asia to develop closer friendships.

The participants in the two-day conference, themed "Boosting Development Through a Peace Deal and Achieving Positive Outcomes through Cooperation", will discuss issues of common concern in China and Southeast Asia, and push for strengthened cooperation between the countries.

The China-Southeast Asia High-level People to People Dialogue is initiated by the Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), a Chinese nongovernmental organization, which aims to establish a platform to support regional cooperation and development between China and Southeast Asian countries.