People-to-People Exchanges between China and Southeast Asia: The Role of Non-State Agents in Remaking Connections across the Global South

International politics has undergone significant changes before and after COVID-19 in 2020, with geopolitical competition intensifying. In contrast, China and Southeast Asia relations have continuously strengthened. Exchange and cooperation between China and Southeast Asia in various sectors—such as culture, education, religion, health, and academia—show a clear and robust growth trend. The development of civil exchanges between China and Southeast Asia is not only a strengthening of cross-border interactions but also a revival of tradi-tional cosmology. This development has transcended conventional understanding of international relations (IR) and has attracted increasing academic attention. These people-to-people exchanges have fostered diverse unofficial transnational networks, reinforced the foundation of China-Southeast Asia relations, provided a practical arena for non-state actors in international relations within one distinctive regional context, and demonstrated how regional cooperation can be advanced and deepened at the individual level. This special issue explores various dimensions of civil exchange, highlighting the positive impact of civil society beyond state power on China-Southeast Asia relations. It also presents important case studies and theoretical insights that could enhance research methodologies in area studies and IR, contributes to the emerging and flourishing “Global South IR,” and provides valuable perspectives for scholars and policymakers.