On 14 February 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Mr. Liu Shuguang, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of Weifang City. Mr. Sun Qisheng, Deputy Mayor of Weifang, Mr. Wang Hao and Mr. Liu Weidi, Director and Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Weifang, and Mr. Ma Jun, Deputy Director of Shandong Foreign Affairs Office attended the meeting.

Mr. Liu Shuguang extended a warm welcome to Secretary-General Yang Xiuping for her visit to Weifang. He noted that Weifang is rich in history, culture, and resources, and has a full range of industries. Every April of the year, some important international activities including Weifang International?Kite Festival, Shouguang Vegetable Expo, Traditional Chinese Painting Festival etc, attract a great number?of?tourists?from domestic and overseas, which ASEAN countries also take an actively part in, and therefore become important platforms for external contacts of Weifang. He hoped that Weifang could further strengthen its ties with ACC so as to achieve new progress of practical cooperation between Weifang and ASEAN. Mr. Sun Qisheng introduced the cooperation between Weifang and ASEAN. He said that Weifang attaches great importance to its trade and investment cooperation with ASEAN. With the East Asian Livestock Exchange settled in Weifang, Weifang is injected with new confidence and impetus to expand cooperation with ASEAN.

Secretary-General Yang introduced the development of ASEAN-China relations and the work of ACC. She said that ACC has made a great efforts in promoting the cooperation and exchanges at local levels between ASEAN and China. She highly appreciated the achievements of Weifang-ASEAN cooperation, and hoped that Weifang will further?integrate its features and the need of ASEAN countries, for accurate docking on advantaged?industries, such as livestock and tourism industries, and strive for a win-win result. ACC will continue to support Weifang to play a more important role in ASEAN-China practical cooperation.

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