Beyond cultural performances, the festival also featured a roundtable forum that brought together representatives from embassies, businesses and youth groups. Discussions focused on socioeconomic development, cross-cultural management and youth engagement.

Joshua Chen, a 22-year-old economics major from Laos at Tsinghua University, said the forum provided a space for exploration and personal growth.

"Being here allows me to represent my country, make international friends and broaden my understanding of ASEAN-China relations," he said.

He noted that Laos' economy is closely linked to tourism and said that exchanges like this encourage young people to think more critically about development paths for their home countries.

Many participants spoke of a strong sense of shared belonging. Jonio da Anunciacao, a student from Timor-Leste at Peking University, noted that his country officially joined ASEAN this year.

"Now we are one family," he said."Events like this help people understand one another not only through food or performances, but through meaningful conversation."

For Cao Jiaming, an 18-year-old student from China, the festival offered a vivid lesson in openness and empathy. As he moved between booths, he watched young people from different countries greet one another, explain their traditions and exchange stories with ease.

"When you talk to someone directly, you realize how similar China and ASEAN countries are. Events like this remind me that kindness and respect are universal values," he said.