On 9 January 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of?ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Ms. Tan Ping, Deputy Head of Honghe Prefecture in Mengzi City, Yunnan Province. They had a discussion on the exchanges between Honghe Prefecture and ASEAN countries, and ASEAN-China cross-border cooperation. Mr. Wu Weidong, Deputy Director of Regional Cooperation Office of Yunnan Foreign Affairs Office, Mr. Yang Yahu, Deputy Director of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and officials in charge of commercial and port affairs of Honghe Prefecture, Mr. Zhang Xuehai, Deputy Director of the Information and Public Relations Division of ACC, attended the meeting.

Ms. Tan Ping overviewed the cross-border trade and friendly exchanges between Honghe Prefecture and ASEAN countries, especially Viet Nam. Honghe Prefecture enjoys geographic advantages as it is located in the middle of Kunming and Ha Noi and has 848-kilometer border line with Viet Nam. Hekou and Jinshuihe are both national category one ports of the Prefecture. Mengzi Economic and Technological Development Zone and Honghe Comprehensive Bonded Zone are under steady construction. Honghe Prefecture is now making active efforts to establish Hekou (China)-Lào Cai (Viet Nam) Cross Border Economic Cooperation Zone. The great potential in developing exchange and cooperation with ASEAN countries is expected to give full advantages to expand practical cooperation with Viet Nam in trade, investment, education, culture and cross-border tourism. The Prefecture hopes to seek continuous supports from ACC.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping outlined the mandate and work of ACC and set a high value on the contributions made by Honghe Prefecture to promoting ASEAN-China cooperation, especially China-Viet Nam practical cooperation in all fields. She noted that cross-border trade and people-to-people exchange are important factors to help promote ASEAN-China relations. ACC has always been giving supports to border cities of Yunnan Province in expanding exchange and cooperation with ASEAN countries. ACC has organized media delegations from China and ASEAN to visit several border cities with a view to forging closer links between Yunnan Province and its adjacent regions. ACC is ready to work closely with Yunnan Province and Honghe Prefecture to help Honghe expand its relations with Viet Nam and other ASEAN countries to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results.