ACC Secretary-General Attended the International Seminar on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

On 21 December 2015, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Secretary-General H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping attended the International Seminar on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in Beijing.

The Seminar was co-organized by China Foundation for International Studies and China-ASEAN Business Council (CABC). H.E. Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, H.E. Mr. Liu Guchang, Director of China Foundation for International Studies, and Mr. Xu Ningning, Executive Director of CABC delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. Ambassadors of Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam to China, representatives of the Embassies of Laos, Malaysia and Thailand, Chinese former Ambassadors to relevant ASEAN countries Mr. Wang Chungui, Mr. Guan Mu, Mr. Liu Xinsheng, Mr. Pan Guangxue and Mr. Li Jiazhong, as well as over 150 guests from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, China Academy of Social Sciences, business and trade promoting councils, enterprises, business associations and media attended the Seminar.

Vice Minister Liu Zhenmin remarked that the core spirit of the Belt and Road was openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, which was in line with China’s neighborhood policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. The Belt and Road initiative should be jointly built through consultation to meet the interests of all. China and Southeast Asian countries shared close geography and similar culture, and were good neighbors and good partners. China had entered the key stage of building a well-off society in an all-round way and would soon implement the 13th Five-Year Plan. ASEAN countries were working hard to realize the development of the countries and happiness of the people. Southeast Asia was the priority of China’s diplomacy with neighboring countries, and were important area of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Vice Minister Liu put forward several suggestions on ASEAN-China jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, including enhancing connectivity, elevating trade and economic cooperation, docking development strategies and boosting people-to-people exchanges and environmental protection cooperation.

Director Liu Guchang remarked that jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road was the great vision of China and countries along the Belt and Road. In 2015, the Belt and Road initiative had achieved positive progress. He expected the Seminar would reach consensus, promote cooperation and put forward meaningful suggestions.

Executive Director Xu Ningning said that jointly building the 21stCentury Maritime Silk Road had been the driving force for ASEAN-China cooperation. He introduced the CABC’s efforts to promote the building of Maritime Silk Road and expected the Seminar could make new contribution in this regard.

The Seminar included three sessions, namely ASEAN-China Relations and the Building of Silk Road, Upgraded ASEAN-China Free Trade Area and Regional Capacity Cooperation, and People-to-People Bond and Social and Cultural Exchanges under the Building of Silk Road. The participants were of the view that the Maritime Silk Road was an important platform for ASEAN and China to extend cooperation. The two sides shall strengthen policy communication, deepen cooperation in trade, connectivity, finance and people-to-people exchanges, so as to push ASEAN-China relations to a higher level. Mr. Tri Purnajaya, Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division (ECTD) of ACC participated in the discussion of the third session.

Secretary-General Yang exchanged views with the participants on promoting ASEAN-China relations.