On 17 March 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), met with Dr. Francis Chua, Chairman Emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), in Manila. Ms. Huang Ying, Director of General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC, attended the meeting.

Chairman Chua welcomed Secretary-General Yang Xiuping to visit the Philippines and said PCCI was endeavoured to promote Philippines-China economic cooperation. With the sound development of Philippines-China relations, entrepreneurs of both sides have had more interactions. The number of Chinese tourists to visit the Philippines increases sharply, which indicates large opportunity to deepen the bilateral economic cooperation. In this regard, PCCI has actively organized activities such as economic cooperation forum, mutual visits of entrepreneurs, etc., to facilitate business matching of SMEs. He commended ACC’s unique role in promoting practical cooperation between ASEAN and China, and said that PCCI would like to enhance communication with ACC to jointly carry out cooperation and exchange programmes in relevant areas.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping said the year of 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation. There is a bright future for deepening the all-round cooperation between ASEAN and China. ASEAN is pursuing ASEAN Community Vision 2025, while China is implementing the 13th Five-Year Plan. With the advancing of the building of the Belt and Road Initiative, both sides should further align respective development strategies and find more common interests. The Opening Ceremony of ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation was successfully launched. The series of commemorative activities in 2017 will greatly promote people-to-people exchanges and benefit the social and economic development of both sides. ACC, as the inter-governmental organization co-founded by China and 10 ASEAN Member States, is willing to strengthen ties with all parities including PCCI, together to further advance the ASEAN-China practical cooperation.