KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The launching ceremony of a documentary on China-ASEAN ties -- "The Story of Synergy (ASEAN Edition)" -- was held here on Wednesday, bringing together guests from cultural organizations, think tanks, enterprises, and media outlets from China and Malaysia for in-depth exchanges on the future of China-ASEAN cooperation.

Speakers at the event underscored that China and ASEAN are close neighbors, trusted friends, and good partners, noting that the documentary comes at a highly meaningful moment, as this year marks the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership.

Through a rich and multi-layered narrative, the documentary showcases the fruitful achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation in recent years.

According to the speakers, cooperation between China and ASEAN has consistently been built on mutual benefit, win-win outcomes, pragmatism, efficiency, openness, and inclusiveness. The value of shared development, they said, lies not only in infrastructure development, but also in the strengthening of people-to-people bonds, mutual trust, and shared understanding.

As China-ASEAN relations enter a new phase of deeper and higher-quality development, the speakers emphasized the need to steer firmly toward solidarity and cooperation, set sail with mutual benefit and win-win partnership, and anchor the relationship in peace and stability.

The event was held at the Gombak Integrated Transport Terminal of Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link (ECRL). As the biggest trade and economic cooperation project between China and Malaysia, the ECRL is more than a major transportation link connecting the east and west coasts of the Malay Peninsula. It is also a "land bridge" between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The documentary team chose the project as one of the key filming subjects. Through this project, the film vividly captures the real-life stories of cooperation between China and ASEAN in connectivity, mutually beneficial industrial collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges.

"The Story of Synergy (ASEAN Edition)" is the third season of "Protecting the Blue Planet: Enterprises in Action," a themed documentary series jointly produced by the China International Publishing Center (CIPC) and Hunan TV International. The new season takes China-ASEAN cooperation as its main storyline.

Through real-life stories from ASEAN countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, the documentary vividly presents the enduring friendship between China and ASEAN countries, and highlights the tangible outcomes of their cooperation in infrastructure, trade, economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

The documentary is expected to be released worldwide in November 2026, shortly before the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership. ■