ACC Secretary-General Yang Xiuping Met with the Under Secretary for Transport and Housing of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

On 27 July 2016, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), met with Mr. Yao Shing-mu, Under Secretary for Transport and Housing of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and exchanged views on strengthening ASEAN-Hong Kong and ASEAN-China cooperation in transport. Ms. Candy Nip and Miss Tsang Fung-yee, Principal Assistant Secretaries of the Government of HKSAR Transport and Housing Bureau, attended the meeting.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping said, 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations. Connectivity was a priority in ASEAN- China cooperation. Both sides had signed a number of agreements and Memorandum of Understandings on cooperation in transportation, ocean shipping and air transportation, which helped open up many route of transport in land, on the sea and in the air. There were currently over 2,000 civil flights commuting between ASEAN and China per week.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping gave a brief on the work of ACC, saying that ACC was committed to implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of ASEAN and China by promoting functional cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and media. In 2016 ACC carried out varied and colourful activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations including the ASEAN-China Week, galas and international seminars. ACC would form synergy with the Government of HKSAR Transport and Housing Bureau to make its due contribution to deepening ASEAN-China relations and promoting regional prosperity.

Mr. Yao Shing-mu applauded ACC’s efforts to foster ASEAN-China friendship and outlined ASEAN-Hong Kong cooperation in transport. He said, Hong Kong was blessed with the geographical advantage of being the gateway linking ASEAN and the Chinese mainland. Hong Kong maintained close cooperation with ASEAN in civil aviation and ocean shipping and signed civil aviation agreements with each ASEAN country. It had regular shipping lines to all major seaports in ASEAN, with 200 liners shuttling between Hong Kong and ASEAN. Hong Kong, famed for its sound and mature legal system and integration in international practice, also had unique advantages in port management, finance, insurance and legal service.  It is striving to forge itself into a service centre for international shipping and provided value-added service for other countries. The Transport and Housing Bureau laid stress on ACC’s roles and was ready to join hands with ACC to deepen ASEAN-Hong Kong cooperation in shipping, civil aviation and logistics to further ASEAN-China relations.