2016 marks the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations. It is also the Year of Educational Exchange for our two sides. With a view to enhancing exchange, cooperation, and understanding between ASEAN and China, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the State Council Information Office of China co-organized a reporting trip by ASEAN media to visit China on the theme of “Jointly Building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. 15 ASEAN journalists from 10 ASEAN countries were invited to visit Jiangsu and Yunnan provinces to report on the achievements ASEAN-China cooperation and the progress made in the joint construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
From 19 to 21 October，the ASEAN media delegation set out in Suzhou as the first point of the reporting trip. H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, ACC Secretary-General, and Ms. Zhao Jun, Vice Editor-in-Chief of the China Report Magazine, accompanied the said media.
Ms. Sheng Lei, Director-General of the Publicity Department and Vice Mayor of Suzhou City, and Mr. Wei Guoling, Director of the Publicity Department of Taicang City, met with the delegation and briefed it on the social-economic development of the city and its cooperation with ASEAN countries in economy, trade, education, culture and tourism. They looked forward to ASEAN journalists’ continued attention to Suzhou and expected deepened cooperation between Suzhou and ASEAN for mutual benefits in the process of joint construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
In Soochow University, Mr. Wang Jiexian, Vice President of the Soochow University in Laos, outlined the construction and development of the Soochow University in Lao PDR, the first ever overseas university founded by any Chinese university and the first foreign university approved to operate in Lao PDR by the Lao Government. The ASEAN journalists took the opportunity to interview the ASEAN students studying in Soochow University.
In the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park, the delegation visited the Planning and Exhibition Hall of the Industrial Park and the Biotech Development Co., for a briefing on the research and development in biotechnology and the incubation of startups.
In Taicang Port, the journalists gained a better knowledge of the port as a traditional starting point of the Ancient Maritime Silk Road, from which Zheng He set sail for his historic voyages to the "Western" (Indian) Ocean. For an updating Taicang’s roles and prospects in ASEAN-China cooperation, they visited Taicang Port Economic and Technological Development Zone and interviewed the Rainbow-Cargotec Industries Co., Ltd., a joint venture between China and Finland focusing on the design, R&D and manufacturing of large-scale port equipment with significant markets in Indonesia and Viet Nam.
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