On 20 January 2015, at ACC ASEAN Hall, Mr. Ma Mingqiang, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), expressed his heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to ACC counterparts and friends from all relevant sectors for their valuable support to ACC's work, projects and activities during his tenure as the ACC Secretary-General since the inception of ACC in 2011. The gratitude also went to those who had rendered their personal assistance and support for Secretary-General Ma to be able to accomplish his duty in an efficient and effective manner. Secretary-General Ma shared his feelings and experience about ACC, which he witnessed since ACC’s initial stage and continued growth in the past three years.
More than 100 participants, comprising ASEAN Ambassadors to China and their representatives as well as the officials from ASEAN Embassies, guests from the relevant Chinese Ministries and agencies concerned together with representatives from local Chinese media, gathered at the ASEAN Hall of ACC to bid farewell to Secretary-General Ma who would assume his new Ambassadorial post in a few days to come. Ambassador of Cambodia to China H. E. Mrs. Khek Caimealy Sysoda, on behalf of ASEAN Ambassadors, spoke highly of Secretary-General Ma’s contribution to ACC as well as his valuable friendship and great cooperation with the ASEAN Ambassadors. The Ambassadors shared great memories with Secretary-General Ma in strengthening and enhancing ASEAN-China relations, and expressed their continued support to the future growth and achievements of ACC. The participants congratulated Secretary-General Ma on his past achievements in steering, raising the profile of ACC as well as making ACC a real inter-governmental organization of the governments of ASEAN and China, which has actively performed its functional and practical cooperation to promote ASEAN-China cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, education, culture and tourism. Under the stewardship of Secretary-General Ma, ACC had achieved a numerous success with great and tangible outcomes and was able to raise awareness about a significance of ASEAN-China relations among the general public both in ASEAN and China. ACC has achieved its roles and fulfilled its mandate as a one-stop information and activities centre and more people across ASEAN and China got to know ACC much better. The participants also extended their best wishes to Secretary-General Ma in his new capacity.
The idea to establish ACC was agreed by the ASEAN and Chinese Leaders at the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit in Nanning in October 2006. ACC was officially launched on 18 November 2011, following the MoU on the Establishing ASEAN-China Centre signed by the governments of ASEAN and China in October 2009 and the inauguration of the ACC official Website in October 2010.
Secretary-General Ma was the first Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre. He officially assumed his post on 18 May 2011 and had tremendously dedicated to the work of ACC with his best ability, great responsibility and professionalism throughout his tenure.