From 17 to 25 April 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), gave interviews to Chinese journalists of China Central Television, Xinhua News Agency, and ASEAN journalists from Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand respectively, during their reporting trip to Hunan and Jiangxi provinces under the theme of “China-ASEAN Jointly Building 21st Century Maritime Silk Road”.

Secretary-General Yang said that the in-depth development?has shaped ASEAN-China relations into an all-dimensional,?multi-layered and?wide-ranging ?pattern and brought substantial benefits to both peoples. In 2016, both sides celebrated the 25th anniversary of their dialogue relations, and the Year of ASEAN-China Educational Exchange. 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and China-ASEAN Year of Tourism Cooperation, both of which would inject strong impetus into the bilateral relations. With the further implementation of Belt and Road Initiative and China-ASEAN Jointly Building 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, ASEAN-China relations will have a broader spectrum for exchanges and cooperation.

In her briefing on ACC, Secretary-General Yang said that ACC, as an intergovernmental organization co-founded by China and ASEAN Member States, dedicates itself to implementing leaders’ consensus to promote practical cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, and media. Over the past 5 years, ACC has completed over 100 flagship projects, and held or participated in over 500 activities. Under the new circumstances, ACC will continue its efforts to foster friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between both sides in an innovative way so as to make more contributions to the enduring and in-depth development of China-ASEAN relations.

Secretary-General Yang added that media is an important bridge and bond for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship of the peoples. ACC attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation of media of both sides. In 2017 ACC organized the third reporting trip by ASEAN and Chinese journalist themed “China-ASEAN Jointly Building 21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. These trips have covered broad areas of China from the coastal and border provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Yunnan, to central China’s provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi, all of which have deepened ASEAN journalists’ understanding of China, and built new platforms for relevant cities and provinces of China to conduct exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN countries.

Secretary-General Yang encouraged ASEAN journalists to further follow up the achievements of China-ASEAN Jointly Building 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and the broad prospects of ASEAN-China cooperation shedding and objective and fair light on ASEAN-China relations, which would make more contributions to mutual understandings of both peoples. She answered questions on China’s will support to the building of ASEAN Community, the benefits the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to ASEAN countries, the prospects of China-ASEAN practical cooperation, and what the strength of Hunan and Jiangxi provinces in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative.