On 15 February 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre(ACC), met with heads of relevant departments of Qingdao city, and listened to the Qingdao-ASEAN cooperation and exchanged views of how to strengthen the cooperation with ACC. Mr. Wan Jianzhong, Deputy Secretary-General of Qingdao Municipal Government chaired the meeting. Mr. Gao Qun, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Qingdao Municipal, and relevant principals from Qingdao Bureau of Commerce, Qingdao Tourism Development Commission, the West Coast of Qingdao New District, Qingdao Education Bureau, China University of Petroleum, Ocean University of China, Haier Group and Rubber Valley, attended the meeting.

Mr. Wan Jianzhong briefed on the economic and social development of Qingdao and its cooperation with ASEAN countries. He noted that Qingdao’s economy has developed greatly which its GNP have ranked 12th largest among cities in China. Qingdao supported the “Belt and Road” scheme. It has conducted cooperation with Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam in various fields with positive results. Qingdao would continue to enhance the cooperation to the higher level with ASEAN countries under the guidance of ACC.

Secretary-General Yang briefed on the progress of ASEAN-China relations and ACC’s mandates and achievements. She noted that ASEAN-China relationship has turned to maturity. This created many opportunities of growth. ACC would promote ASEAN-China inter-city exchange and cooperation. The foundation of ASEAN-Qingdao’s cooperation is solid. ACC would support Qingdao to deepen the cooperation with ASEAN countries.

Officials in relevant departments briefed on their cooperation with ASEAN members and further expressed their willingness to cooperate with ACC. Officials from the Qingdao Foreign Affairs Office mentioned the high-level visits of senior officials of Qingdao and ASEAN countries. Officials from Qingdao Bureau of Commerce briefed on the situation of Qingdao’s investment to ASEAN countries in appliances, textile, rubbers and energy fields, and ASEAN’s investment in Qingdao. Officials from Qingdao Tourism Development Commission said that 2017 is the Year of ASEAN-China Tourism Cooperation, since Qingdao is rich in tourism resources. Qingdao is willing to cooperate with ACC and further enlarge the ASEAN market to make Qingdao famous in ASEAN so as to attract more ASEAN visitors. Officials from the West Coast of Qingdao New District expressed their willingness to cooperate with ASEAN in technology, education, marine, environment, disaster prevention and reduction fields. Officials from Qingdao Education Bureau expressed their willingness to have educational cooperation with ASEAN countries, and utilize new platforms for youth exchange and communication. Officials from China University of Petroleum and Ocean University of China said that they would take advantage of education training centers located in Qingdao and train more senior talents to strengthen the exchange of students so as to consolidate the basis of youth’s understanding and friendship. Representatives from Haier Group and Rubber Valley said that they have had a series of cooperation with ASEAN countries with positive results. They expressed their willingness to utilize the platform of ACC to deepen cooperation with ASEAN countries.