IPRD of ACC Met with Major Chinese Media Partners

On 28 January 2015, Information and Public Relations Division (IPRD) of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) hosted a working lunch for major Chinese media partners of ACC. Representatives from Xinhua Net, China Radio International (CRI), People.com, Huanqiu Net, China Daily, China News Service, China Report magazine and Sina.com attended the working lunch. The meeting was interactive, productive and substantive, starting from an introduction of the IPRD team and the Chinese media representatives for future networking, followed by a briefing on IPRD’s projects & activities and achievements in 2014, as well as exchanging information and views on IPRD’s proposed major projects in 2015.

Ms. Lada Phumas, Director of IPRD, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Chinese media partners for their notable contribution in raising the profile of ACC and building stronger connection between the peoples of ASEAN and China through various platforms during the past year. IPRD was also able to improve ACC bilingual Website with huge increase of visitations up to 1.59 million and raise ACC Microblog fans to over 1.7 million in 2014. She looked forward to their continued support in covering ACC’s events and helping raise the popularity of ACC, ASEAN and ASEAN-China relations among the general public in 2015.

Among the projects and activities undertaken by IPRD in 2014, Director Lada highlighted the constructive roles of the media in the ASEAN Ambassadors’ Lecture Series, "My ASEAN & China" Multimedia Art Exhibition Series, the “ACC Cup - Understanding ASEAN-China Relations” Essay Contest and the interviews of ASEAN Ambassadors and VIP personalities to visit China, all of which came off with great success, bringing ACC closer to the different groups and generations in China.

With respect to IPRD’s tentative work plan in 2015, Director Lada opined that IPRD would continue to maintain its qualified work by conducting projects in consistent with the mandate of ACC as well as in line with the initiatives and priorities of ASEAN-China relations. IPRD would increase its closer liaison with the media  from both ASEAN countries and China and further promote awareness about ACC and the significance of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership.

Director Lada emphasized that media were important gateways to disseminate correct and useful information to the general public and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between China and ASEAN. She encouraged the Chinese media partners to continue their efforts to actively participate in and make wide coverage of ACC’s events and ASEAN-China relations in a substantial and effective way, so as to help bring ASEAN closer to China and vice versa.

This was the first time for IPRD to have a shoulder-to-shoulder discussion with its Chinese media partners in the year 2015. The meeting was held in a pleasant and cordial ambience. The Chinese media representatives thanked IPRD for convening this informative and productive meeting. They commended the good work of IPRD in reaching ACC out and nurturing a good friendship between ASEAN and China, took note of the priorities of work plan of IPRD in 2015, and pledged their continued support to ACC’s activities and ASEAN-China cooperation.