On 18 August 2017, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) organized a lecture on ASEAN-China economic relations under the theme of “Promoting ASEAN-China Economic Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative” at ACC Secretariat in Beijing. The invited guest speaker was Dr. Lin Guijun, Vice President of University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). Representatives from eight embassies of ASEAN countries in Beijing, ASEAN media, and ASEAN/Chinese business community as well as ACC officials attended the event.

In his presentation, Dr. Lin reviewed the past and present of ASEAN-China economic relations in a global context and looked into the future opportunities and challenges. He was of the view that ASEAN countries and China should continue to advance regional economic cooperation, seize the opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative and fully harness their unique strengths to work together for common development.

During the Q&A session, participants had discussions on how ASEAN and China should work together to explore new global markets and promote global value chain cooperation as well as how ASEAN is able to tap the potential presented by China’s Belt and Road Initiative and so on.

The lecture was an effort made by ACC to leverage its role as a one-stop information and activities centre and to raise the awareness of the development of ASEAN-China economic relations. The participants found the lecture informative and thought-provoking and expressed the hope that ACC would continue to organize activities of this kind.