ACC Hosted the 4th Informal Meeting Among Secretary-Generals of ACC, AJC and AKC

On 19 June 2014, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) hosted the 4th Informal Meeting among the Secretary-Generals of ACC, ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) and ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) at the ACC Secretariat in Beijing. ACC Secretary-General Mr. Ma Mingqiang, AJC Secretary-General Mr. Yoshikuni Onishi and AKC Secretary-General Mr. Chung Hae Moon attended the meeting. 

ACC Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang extended a warm welcome to the Secretary-Generals of AJC and AKC as well as their delegations to ACC Secretariat. He recalled with pleasure the previous meetings among ACC, AJC and AKC, during which information and best practices were shared, and possible cooperation among the Centres was explored. It was expected that the 4th informal meeting could open up new channels for better communication and cooperation among the Centres. 

Secretary-Generals of AJC and AKC expressed their appreciation for ACC's warm hospitality and wonderful arrangement in receiving the delegations. The three Secretary-Generals emphasized a necessity to have more frequent meetings among the Centres in the future, for the benefits of ASEAN, ASEAN Plus Three cooperation as well as regional integration. The three Centres were expected to play more meaningful roles at a verge of ASEAN Community building in 2015 and in response to a call from the leaders at the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in October 2013.

The meeting shared experience and exchanged best practice on project implementation by illustrating the flagship projects of each Centre. The meeting also discussed possible areas of future cooperation, including personnel exchange at a time when a Centre is in preparation for a certain project, holding joint collaborative projects including joint human resource development projects, producing joint publications, seeking further cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat and exploring the possibility of joint presentations by the three Secretary-Generals to ASEAN Secretary-General, etc. 

ACC Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang expressed appreciation to AKC for receiving the ACC IPRD delegation in March 2014 for a best practice sharing trip, which proved very successful and rewarding. AJC and AKC Secretary-Generals concurred with Secretary-General Ma to conduct more personnel exchanges among the Centres, and would love to welcome staffs from the other Centres.

The meeting reached consensus that the next informal meeting among the Secretary-Generals of ACC, AJC and AKC will be hosted by AJC in Japan, at an appropriate time agreeable to the three Secretary-Generals. 

Before the meeting, AJC Secretary-General visited ACC ASEAN Hall where ACC has been organizing the photo exhibition on the 11 members of ACC (10 ASEAN Member States and China) to enhance ASEAN-China relations for one month. AJC Secretary-General was impressed by ACC's role in reaching out to the general public and admired ACC's great potential to perform its function as a one-stop information and activities centre to promote close and cordial relations between ASEAN and China.  

ACC, AJC and AKC are inter-governmental organizations established between the governments of ASEAN and China, Japan and Korea respectively. The three Centres have been engaged in promoting various work programs and activities aimed to promote cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, education, culture and tourism with ASEAN.