Current Status: Active

The Southeast Asia International Communication Center (雲南省南亞東南亞區域國際傳播中心) is a center created in May 2022 by the propaganda office of the Yunnan Committee of the CCP. Part of a nationwide plan to leverage local media for global propaganda initiated by the leadership in 2018, and accelerating from 2021, the center is directed toward neighboring South Asian countries with focus on environmental and water management issues—key to China’s role in the Golden Triangle region. Officially approved by the Central Propaganda Department and guided by Yunnan Province’s publicity department, the center is operated by the Yunnan Daily newspaper group. Its positioning is described as building “the main battlefield” (主阵地) for serving China’s radiation center construction toward South and Southeast Asia, “the testing ground” (试验田) for China’s international communication toward South and Southeast Asia, and “the new high ground” (新高地) for “telling good stories of Beautiful China and Colorful Yunnan” (讲好美丽中国七彩云南故事). The center includes internal organizations like Lancang-Mekong Media (澜湄传媒) and houses a regional international communication research institute, demonstrating Beijing’s systematic approach to expanding media influence through strategically positioned local outlets targeting specific geographic and thematic priorities across the region.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Yunnan Province People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (雲南省人民對外友好協會) is a provincial-level foreign friendship organization managed by the Yunnan Provincial Government’s Foreign Affairs Office (FAO). The association coordinates international cooperation through civilian channels to support Yunnan’s economic development and opening-up policies. It manages sister city relationships, having facilitated 77 partnerships with Belt and Road countries, including 55 with South and Southeast Asian nations, according to a description on its website. Since 2022, the organization has implemented the “Heart Connection, Yunnan Journey” (心联通 云南行) public welfare project, conducting civilian cooperation in neighboring countries and supporting social organizations in healthcare collaboration in Myanmar and Laos. But external propaganda is a key priority of the association, as noted explicitly in this event held in August 2024 with Sri Lanka.