On 24 May 2017, the Joint Executive Board (JEB) Working Group Meeting of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was held at the ACC Secretariat. This was the second JEB Working Group Meeting held in 2017. Representatives from Asian Department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of China, Embassies of ASEAN Member States in Beijing and all divisions of ACC attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Huang Ying, Director of General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC.

Ms. Huang Ying expressed her gratitude for the JEB’s strong support and assistance to the ACC Secretariat. She noted that 2017 is the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation. ACC has accomplished a series of projects for friendly exchanges and practical cooperation as approved by the Joint Council and made good progress. ACC Secretariat is ready to listen to the ideas and suggestions of the JEB members, and build on the progress from the previous stage, enhance the quality and level of its work in various fields and play an even bigger role in promoting the practical cooperation between ASEAN and China.

Mr. Ivan Frank M. Olea, Minister of the Embassy of the Philippines, briefed the meeting on relevant work of the Philippines as the rotating Chair of ASEAN. He expressed the readiness of ASEAN Embassies in Beijing to have closer contact with ACC Secretariat for more activities in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation. Ms. Xu Hui, Deputy Director of the Department of Asian Affairs of Chinese Foreign Ministry, updated the meeting on the development of ASEAN-China relations, especially the outcomes of the 23rd ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultation held in Guiyang recently. She stressed that China is ready to work with ASEAN and promote ASEAN- China relations to a new level.

Directors and representatives of all four ACC divisions highlighted the work that has been done and work plan in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and media. The JEB members commended the work of the ACC Secretariat, congratulated on and appreciated the activities successfully conducted by ACC Secretariat since last JEB Working Group Meeting and put forward constructive ideas and suggestions on priority cooperation projects. They pledged continued support to the ACC Secretariat in hope of producing more fruitful results in practical cooperation between ASEAN and China.