Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang Received Joint Interview by ASEAN Journalists and Reporters

On 23 September 2013, a group of 11 ASEAN journalists and reporters from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam paid a visit to ASEAN-China Centre (ACC). ACC Secretary General Ma Mingqiang received a joint interview and had an interactive dialogue on ACC and ASEAN-China relations.

ACC Secretary General Ma gave a comprehensive introduction on the establishment, development, roles and functions of ACC, as well as activities held by ACC in strengthening ASEAN-China cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, education, culture and tourism. As the only inter-governmental organization established by the Governments of 11 ACC Member States, ACC was highlighted to perform its roles as an initiator of functional and practical cooperation and activities, a facilitator of good neighborliness and mutual trust, and an advocator of friendship between ASEAN and China. After the briefing, he replied to some interesting questions on ACC's efforts and experience in promoting ASEAN-China mutual trust, cooperation between ASEAN Member States, respective ASEAN Embassies in Beijing and ACC, prospect for China's investment in ASEAN and vice versa, as well as how to facilitate people-to-people linkages through tourism, culture and education. Secretary General Ma also pointed out that in order to further enhance ASEAN-China relations, ASEAN and China should continue to attach great importance to their relations in all aspects, particularly on trade and investment, further lowering the tariff in ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, ASEAN-China connectivity through infrastructure projects and investment as well as education and cultural exchanges. Secretary General Ma wished to see ASEAN journalists and reporters play an active role in promoting ASEAN-China friendly relations in their respective home countries.

The ASEAN journalist/reporter group visiting ACC was organized by the Department of Information of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The group comprised 11 journalists/reporters from United Daily News of Brunei, Jakarta Post, Kompas and Viva of Indonesia, Sin Chew Daily and Bernama of Malaysia, Lianhe Zaobao of Singapore, Daily News and The Nation of Thailand, and Vietnam News Agency and Voice of Vietnam.