On 27 December 2016, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) visited Guangrao County of Dongying City during which she met with local officials including Ms. Chen Yuan, Deputy County Chief. Mr. Chen Guangfeng, Director of Dongying Municipal Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Mr. Zhang Xuehai, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Division of ACC, and other officials attended the meeting.

Ms. Chen Yuan mentioned the history, culture as well as economic and social development of Guangrao County. She said that Guangrao, an ancient county with a time-honoured history and splendid culture, is brimmed with vigour and vitality in its development. It boasts thriving industries such as advanced equipment manufacturing, new energy, new material, new medicines and other emerging strategic industries as well as modern logistics, modern services and e-commerce. As China’s largest export base for rubber tyre and automobile parts, it produces 150 million radial tyres, which accounts for one quarter of the nation’s total output. In recent years, Guangrao has made active contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative and supported competitive enterprises in building rubber industrial parks in ASEAN countries, which has produced fruitful results. The China (Guangrao) International Rubber Tire & Auto Accessory Exhibition, after six years of development, has become the world’s second largest exhibition of its kind and a well-known platform for exchanges and cooperation on technologies and trade. The 8th exhibition will be held mid May 2017. It is hoped that ACC will continue to support exchanges between Guangrao and ASEAN, and take the upcoming exhibition as an opportunity to expand the practical cooperation between the two sides in relevant fields.

Secretary-General Yang commended the achievements made by Guangrao in its economic and social development and mentioned the mandate and work of ACC. She said that ACC is committed to promoting friendly cooperation between ASEAN and China in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and other areas, and facilitating local exchanges between the two sides. Guangrao and ASEAN countries enjoy great economic complementarities and enormous cooperation potential. ACC is ready to fully harness its unique strengths, maintain close communication and contact with Guangrao to provide support and assistance in cooperation between Guangrao and ASEAN for win-win results.

?