Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang Met with Deputy Director General of Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Province

On 30 June 2014, Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Ms. Li Rong, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People’s Government (SDFAO).

Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang briefed Li Rong about ACC’s efforts to promote functional cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture and tourism between ASEAN and China since its founding in 2011. He hoped that enterprises of both sides would benefit from the late fast developing ASEAN-China relations by capitalizing on the comparative advantage and the economic complementarity between ASEAN and Shandong, and in return contribute to consolidate the foundation for broader trade and economic cooperation between ASEAN and China for mutual benefits and common development. Ma said Shandong was very strong in agriculture, industry and fishery. These were the areas from which Shandong enterprises could benefit most. He also said the agricultural equipment manufactured in Shandong Province could be very competitive in most of the ASEAN member states. He also encouraged the Shandong side to join in ACC’s activities.

After reiterating the Provincial Government’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries, Ms. Li Rong hoped ACC could assist in organising an official trip for ASEAN Ambassadors to Shandong when the time was convenient. The purpose of the trip was to enhance the mutual understanding and explore the cooperation opportunities.

Secretary-General Ma expressed full support to Shandong’s endeavour to broaden exchange with ASEAN countries in all fields, which might bring about positive outcomes for ASEAN-China cooperation in the future.