ACC Secretary-General Met with President of Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On 31 August 2016, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Secretary-General H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping met with Mr. Zheng Zhisun, President of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) in Bangkok. Vice Presidents of TCCI attended the meeting.

Secretary-General Yang introduced the progress of ASEAN-China relations and trade and economic cooperation, saying that China remained ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 7 consecutive years, and ASEAN was China’s third largest trading partner for 5 years running. By the end of 2015, negotiations on upgrading ASEAN-China FTA were completed, which provided new momentum to realize the goal of ASEAN-China trade volume of 1 trillion USD, and newly increased investment of 150 billion USD from 2013 to 2020. Thailand and China enjoyed close economic ties. In 2015, bilateral trade volume reached 75 billion USD. Cooperation in investment, industrial parks and other areas achieved positive progress.

Secretary-General Yang briefed on ACC’s mandate and efforts to promote trade and investment cooperation. ACC had actively publicized the ASEAN-China FTA policies, organized trade and investment missions to ASEAN countries, helped ASEAN enterprises to attend various expos in China, and support SMEs development. ACC was planning the work programme for 2017, and hoped to get the continued support from the business community of ASEAN countries, and worked together for greater progress of ASEAN-China trade and investment cooperation.

President Zheng Zhisun extended a warm welcome to Secretary-General for visiting TCCI. He said that TCCI had a history of 40 years, and had established good cooperative relations with Offices of Overseas Chinese of a number of Chinese cities, and actively participated in CAEXPO. The Belt and Road initiative would benefit the countries along the Belt and Road including ASEAN. TCCI would grasp the historical opportunity, enhance contacts with ACC. He hoped that TCCI could get continued assistance and facilitation from ACC, and join hands to strengthen cooperation between Thai and Chinese enterprises for prosperity,

Secretary-General Yang interacted with the participants. Sing Sian Daily covered the event.