Djauhari Oratmangun, ambassador of Indonesia to China Photo: Courtesy of the Online Influencers Conference
The opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China Online Influencers Conference Photo: Courtesy of the Online Influencers Conference
Cake from Vietnam, coconuts from Malaysia, sandwich crackers from the Philippines... a number of livestreamers, mostly students from overseas studying in China, were promoting products from ASEAN countries to consumers in front of small screens during the ASEAN-China Online Influencers Conference in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province.
Taking the theme "Set Sail from Blessed Land when the Wind is Positive," the first ASEAN-China Online Influencers Conference and Fujian Brands Promotion Tour along the Maritime Silk Road was held from Tuesday to Thursday, a year after China and ASEAN celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue and elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The event also followed the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest free trade deal, which will bring new development opportunities to the China-ASEAN ties.
Mutually beneficial
ASEAN diplomats in China and Chinese and ASEAN online influencers learned about Fuzhou's experience in developing the digital industry and experienced the culture of Fujian Province through field visits and online activities during the three-day event.
Benjamin Sukanjanajtee, minister of the Thai Embassy in China, told the Global Times that his life was deeply changed by China's booming online economy after being relocated to the country a year ago.
Sukanjanajtee said he was impressed by what students from ASEAN countries were doing through livestreaming, such as selling products made in their own countries at the Sea Lion Intelligence Center in Fuzhou.
"It is a new trend and a new normal for this generation," he said.
"It is out of the traditional way of selling and buying things. You do not have to go through a middleman but directly sell to customers. This changing trend is also taking place in Thailand," Sukanjanajtee remarked.
Djauhari Oratmangun, ambassador of Indonesia to China, pointed to Indonesia's famous prawn cracker brand Papatonk, which sold more than
