The First Session of 2021 ACC Joint Executive Board Working Group Meeting Held

On 25 March 2021, the First Session of 2021 Joint Executive Board (JEB) Working Group Meeting of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was held in Miyun District, Beijing. Representatives from the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of China and embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS) in China attended the meeting. The meeting was moderated by Ms. Wang Hongliu, Director of the General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC, and co-chaired by Ms. Ang Lay Ling, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in China, and Ms. Hou Pei, Deputy Director of the Regional Cooperation Division of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. Heads of all divisions of ACC were present.

Ms. Wang Hongliu thanked JEB members for their strong support to the ACC Secretariat. She noted that this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the dialogue relations between ASEAN and China, and the ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation. It is also the first year to carry out the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2021-2025), as well as the 10th anniversary of the founding of ACC. The ACC Secretariat is committed to earnestly fulfilling its duty to make further contributions to the sound development of ASEAN-China relations, and looks forward to continued guidance and support from all JEB members.

Ms. Ang Lay Ling commended the successful holding of the face-to-face meeting and fully affirmed the role and contributions of ACC in enhancing friendship and promoting cooperation in various fields between AMS and China. She said that the year 2021 is of great significance to China, ASEAN and ASEAN-China relations, which will bring more opportunities to ASEAN-China cooperation. As the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, Brunei will work hand in hand with ACC to promote mutual support and collaboration between ASEANand China, and push for new development of ASEAN-China relations.

Ms. Hou Pei said that since the 10th Joint Council Meeting held in November 2020, ACC has carried out a variety of activities in an innovative manner and achieved good results. This year, China will take the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations to deepen practical cooperation between the two sides in various areas in all dimensions, make the year of sustainable development cooperation a success, and inject more impetus into defeating the pandemic and achieving economic recovery and sustainable development in the region at an early date. She hoped that ACC would play a greater role and make new contributions to the upgrading of ASEAN-China relations.

Heads of ACC divisions reviewed the progress of each division since the 10th Joint Council Meeting and outlined the work plan for the next stage. Representatives of JEB members spoke highly of the important role ACC has played in ASEAN-China cooperation and commended theproductive work carried out by ACC against the backdrop of regular pandemic prevention and control, and gave ideas and suggestions on the implementation of relevant cooperation projects in 2021. They pledged full support to and close collaboration with the ACC Secretariat as always, in promoting ASEAN-China exchanges and cooperation in various fields to achieve more fruitful results.