On 14 September 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of?ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) attended and addressed the China-BIMP-EAGA Trade and Investment Forum.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping briefed on the fruitful achievements on practical cooperation in trade and investment between ASEAN and China in recent years and commended the important role BIMP-EAGA played in promoting regional cooperation. She said as a sub-regional cooperation mechanism within ASEAN, BIMP-EAGA has been committed to promoting regional cooperation in trade and investment facilitation, power and energy infrastructure, information and communication technology, transport, agriculture, tourism and so on. It has become an important platform for synergized development for ASEAN countries. With the deepening of ASEAN integration, the BIMP-EAGA is committed to building itself into a resilient, inclusive, sustainable and economically competitive cooperation mechanism to narrow development gap between regional countries, which mapped out a clear blueprint for the future development of BIMP-EAGA. The Seminar is under the theme of “Insight into BIMP-EAGA: Potentials & Opportunities”, which is of great significance to expand cooperation between China and BIMP-EAGA, support ASEAN Community building and contribute to the joint building of the Belt and Road. She looked forward to in-depth and lively discussions by all sides at the Seminar so as to contribute wisdom and strengths to further ASEAN-China cooperation, especially cooperation between BIMP-EAGA and China.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping spoke highly of the effective work by Guangxi in promoting China-ASEAN trade and investment cooperation. It is hoped that Guangxi will continue to fully leverage its strengths, actively participate in and support China-BIMP-EAGA cooperation, build itself into an important gateway connecting the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and the Silk Road Economic Belt and play a greater role for in-depth and sustained development of China-ASEAN strategic partnership.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping briefed on the mandate and relevant work of ACC. She said ACC takes trade and investment promotion as one of its priorities, and vigorously promotes the upgraded ASEAN-China FTA and relevant ASEAN trade and investment policies, and enhances cooperation on production capacity, agriculture as well as poverty reduction. ACC supports ASEAN enterprises, SMEs in particular, in exploring business opportunities in China and has organized investment missions to ASEAN countries. Next year will mark the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN-China strategic partnership and ASEAN-China Year of Innovation, ACC will continue to play its role as a one-stop information and activities centre and join hands with all sides to take ASEAN-China practical cooperation to a new level.

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