ACC Organized ASEAN Female Diplomats to Visit Yangzhou

On 6 April 2021, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) organized a delegation of female diplomats from ASEAN Member States (AMS) to visit Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. Mr. Chen Yang, Chairman of Yangzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Mr. Yu Ting, Deputy Mayor of Yangzhou, met with and hosted a welcome banquet for the delegation of 22 people. Among them were Mrs. Khamphao Ernthavanh, Ambassador of Lao PDR to China, Mrs. Sih Elsiwi Handayani Oratmangun, Spouse of Indonesian Ambassador to China, Mrs. Tengku Sofia Dora Binti Tengku Mohamad, Spouse of Malaysian Ambassador to China, female diplomats from embassies of Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam , and Ms. Wang Hongliu, Director of the General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC. Mr. Wang Jun, Vice Chairman of CPPCC Yangzhou Municipal Committee and Ms. Wang Yuqin, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Yangzhou, also attended the meeting.  

Mr. Chen Yang warmly welcomed the delegation to Yangzhou and appreciated ACC for organizing this meaningful trip. He gave a brief introduction on the latest economic and social development of Yangzhou. With a long history and splendid culture, pleasant environment and climate, rich resources and outstanding regional advantages, Yangzhou has attracted many AMS such as Malaysia to make investments and develop businesses. Under the theme “Green City, Green Life”, the six-month-long International Horticultural Exposition 2021 (Yangzhou Expo) will be held from 8 April to 8 October with the participation of 25 foreign countries including Thailand. He expressed hope that with flowers as an intermediary and taking the opportunity of receiving ASEAN female diplomats, Yangzhou  will make a good start in further strengthening exchanges and cooperation with AMS in the post-COVID-19 era and promote ASEAN-China relations to a new level.  

Mrs. Khamphao Ernthavanh expressed her appreciation to the Yangzhou Municipal People’s Government for their hospitality and considerate arrangements and thanked ACC for organizing the visit. She said ASEAN attaches great importance to ASEAN-China relationship. The two sides have conducted practical cooperation in many fields which has brought tangible benefits to people in the region. The year 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-China dialogue relations. At present, ASEAN and China are each other’s largest trading partners. ASEAN is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields to jointly promote the economic recovery of the region and the resumption of personnel exchanges, so as to inject more vigor to ASEAN-China relations. She believed that the delegation will learn more about Yangzhou and the local developments of China through this visit, and each delegate will play an active role in deepening the friendly and practical cooperation between ASEAN and Yangzhou.

During the welcome banquet, the delegates gained a better understanding of Yangzhou’s economic and social development and its cooperation with AMS. They also enjoyed a live show of “Wensi Tofu” making and talked about their dreams and personal stories in their careers as female diplomats.