On 15 December 2015, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) hosted a reception celebrating the 4th anniversary of its establishment at Kempinski Hotel in Beijing. H.E. Mr. Kong Xuanyou, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the Ambassadors of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and the Philippines to China, the Chargé d'Affaire of the Singaporean Embassy, representatives of other Embassies of ASEAN countries in China, and representatives from international organizations including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), the Secretariat of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and over 400 distinguished guests including representatives of the diplomatic corps, relevant Chinese ministries, business circle, academic institutions and media attended the Reception.
H.E. Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou in his remarks acknowledged ACC’s hard work over the past four years and positive contributions to promoting ASEAN-China cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and information and public relations. After a retrospection of the achievements of the ASEAN-China relations since the establishment of ASEAN-China dialogue relations in 1991, he expressed that the formal launch of the ASEAN Community at the end of this year would mark a new level of cooperation in the region. China and ASEAN were bound together by the common cause and went through thick and thin together. The achievements made by China since the adoption of the policy of reform and opening up were indispensable from ASEAN’s support. China had always regarded ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and firmly supported ASEAN integration and community building efforts. At the 18th ASEAN-China Summit in November 2015, Premier Li Keqiang put forward a number of important cooperation initiatives and the leaders of ASEAN and China reached important consensus on the development of future cooperation. It was hoped ACC would give full play to its unique advantages and continue to serve as a bridge and platform to promote exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China in relevant fields. The Assistant Minister pledged China's continued commitment, as the host country of ACC, to assist and support ACC.
H.E. Mme. Khek Caimealy Sysoda, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to China, spoke on behalf of H.E. Dato' Zainuddin Yahya, Ambassador of Malaysia, expressing that the leaders of ASEAN and China had acknowledged the good work and valuable contribution of ACC thus far. She congratulated Secretary-General Yang Xiuping on her wisdom and able leadership in steering ACC to its visible success today and extended her heartfelt appreciation of ACC’s unwavering support to the ASEAN Embassies and other stakeholders in promoting trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and China. She expected ACC would make more remarkable progress in 2016, and play a more prominent role in helping fulfill the leaders’ commitment to further strengthening ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership and to consolidating ASEAN-China relations. She reaffirmed that the ASEAN Embassies in Beijing would continue to extend its cooperation and support to ACC in discharging its duties.
ACC Secretary-General H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping said that in 2015, ACC, bearing in mind the consensus reached by the leaders of ASEAN and China, had accomplished 18 flagship projects and been engaged in over 100 activities in promoting functional cooperation and exchanges in the areas of trade, investment, education, culture and tourism, as well as public relations and media. Its achievements had been well recognized in the Chairman's Statement of the 18th ASEAN-China Summit. She highlighted some of the achievements ACC had made in boosting cooperation in the relevant areas in 2015.
Secretary-General Yang Xiuping expressed her appreciation to the governments of ASEAN Member States and China and all walks of society for their strong support to ACC and reaffirmed ACC’s readiness and dedication to embark on more innovative and pioneering efforts to contribute to further elevate functional cooperation and friendship between ASEAN and China.
Prior to the Reception, the guests had the opportunity to tour the Photo Exhibition themed on “Strengthening ASEAN-China Relations”, hosted by ACC in conjunction with the Reception.