On 1 August 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), met with Mr. Wei Ran, Executive Deputy Director-General of the Office of Beibu Gulf Economic Zone & Cooperation with ASEAN Countries of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and exchanged views on Guangxi-ASEAN cooperation. Mr. Wang Mingtao, Director of the General Office of the Office of Beibu Gulf Economic Zone & Cooperation with ASEAN Countries of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, attended the meeting.

Director-General Wei Ran briefed on Guangxi-ASEAN cooperation and the work of the Office. He said Guangxi and ASEAN are connected by land and sea. As the gateway for China’s opening up to ASEAN, Guangxi enjoys important geographic advantages, solid foundation for cooperation and fruitful cooperation results. The Office is committed to build the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone into an important international regional economic zone of China, through platforms like Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum, China-ASEAN Harbor City Cooperation Network, and so on and has conducted effective cooperation with ASEAN countries in areas such as port and industrial park. Guangxi is going to host the 14th China-ASEAN Expo in September 2017 and hopes to take this Expo as an opportunity to further deepen the friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in economic and people-to-people areas. Thus, it hopes to get ACC’s strong support.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping spoke highly of Guangxi for its active contribution to ASEAN-China relations. She said China and ASEAN are working together to build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the strategic partnership next year. ASEAN-China cooperation are facing broad prospects. Cooperation at the local levels is an important part of ASEAN-China relations. ACC would continue to play its bridging role, work together with Guangxi as well as grasp the opportunity to jointly elevate Guangxi-ASEAN and ASEAN-China cooperation to a new height.