The China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Young Entrepreneurs Forum kicked off Tuesday in Nanning, capital city of the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

It is the first ever such activity held in China to enhance cooperation between young business people.

More than 140 entrepreneurs from ASEAN countries took part in the event which was organized by the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF).

At the opening ceremony, Lu Yongzheng, vice president of the ACYF, said China and ASEAN should endeavor to establish a young business people's association to act as a platform to promote dialogue.

"Such a mechanism would help to raise young entrepreneur's capabilities to better establish themselves, make a more successful business and inject vitality into the China-ASEAN strategic partnership," Lu said.

N. Hafimi Abdul Haadii, head of the young entrepreneur delegation from Brunei Darussalam, added that amid global financial turmoil, it is of crucial importance for the private sector in this region to join efforts and seek mutual growth opportunities.

This forum is a part of the fifth China-ASEAN Expo that will run through October 25 in Nanning, a southern metropolitan with a population of more than 6.4 million.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2008)