Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang Met with Senior Norwegian Diplomat

On 6 March 2014, ACC Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Ms. Anja T. Kaspersen, a senior advisor of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who had just concluded visits to Brunei, Malaysia and Myanmar.

Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang briefed on the development and roles of ACC and highlighted major projects initiated by ACC to promote ASEAN-China cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people connectivity. He expressed that ASEAN and China reinforce each other since both are experiencing fast social and economic development. ACC will continue to carry out substantial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.

Ms. Kaspersen expressed her appreciation for Secretary-General Ma's briefing and perspectives. She said that Norway plans to enhance cooperation with ASEAN and is eager to learn experience from ASEAN's important dialogue partners such as China. More than 200 Norwegian enterprises are currently conducting business in ASEAN. China's rich experience in cooperation with ASEAN will help Norwegian enterprises understand the investment environment and social development in ASEAN.

Both sides also exchanged views on a wide range of issues including building of an ASEAN Community, narrowing development gap among ASEAN Member States and relevant capacity building programs and initiatives.