Shi Zhongjun Meets Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn

     On 1 November 2024, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) called on Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn of ASEAN in Jakarta.
 
 
     Shi Zhongjun briefed on the ACC’s efforts in promoting ASEAN-China relations, economic and trade cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as the working plans in 2025. He conveyed sincere gratitude to Dr. Kao and the ASEAN Secretariat for the strong and sustained support to the development and improvement of the ACC. Leveraging its bridging and facilitating role in promoting pragmatic cooperation and friendly exchanges between ASEAN and China, the ACC will carry out more mutually beneficial cooperation between ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China through cementing collaboration among various stakeholders, as well as local provinces and cities on both sides, through aligning the actual needs of AMS in such areas as trade and investment, digital transformation, smart agriculture and food security. The ACC will further deepen close communication and cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat, implementing more flagship projects in the purpose of further promoting mutual benefits and win-win cooperation between ASEAN and China, so as to better serve the building of an even closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.
 
     Kao Kim Hourn commended the ACC’s consistent dedication in strengthening time-honored friendship and pragmatic cooperation between ASEAN and China. He stressed that the ACC’s relentless pursuit has effectively raised the public awareness and understanding of ASEAN-China relations, and contributed a lot to the long-term building of the ASEAN Community. As the major engines and vast markets for the stable recovery and quality development of our region, both ASEAN and China share enormous potential and promising future for all-round cooperation, so as to ensure a favorable momentum of growth for ASEAN-China relations. He looked forward to China further expanding its investment in ASEAN countries, unleashing the benefits of Version 3.0 of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA), strengthening cooperation in such fields as tourism, culture, education, media and related areas of people-to-people exchanges between both sides, and deepening mutual understanding among the younger generations in particular. He also called on the ACC to actively support and participate in more of ASEAN-sponsored activities such as the ASEAN Day celebration, and collaborate with the rotating chair of ASEAN to stage related commemorative events.