On 12 December 2017, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) held the 9th session of “the Lecture Series by ASEAN and Chinese Ambassadors” in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Buensuceso, the co-chair of the 7th Joint Council Meeting of ACC, and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, was invited to deliver a speech at Guangxi Normal University. The other members and representatives of the Joint Council also joined to interact with the students. Over 300 students from China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam enrolled in Guangxi Normal University, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin University of Technology and Guilin Tourism University participated in the event. The event was moderated by Mr. Luo Yaoguang, Director of International Cooperation and Exchanges Division of Guangxi Education Department.

Ms. Lan Yan, Vice Mayor of Guilin, stated in her remarks that Guilin Municipal Government always values expanding exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN. She believed that the lecture held by ACC would open a new window for ASEAN and Chinese students to deeply learn about ASEAN and ASEAN-China relations, and provide new opportunities for universities in Guilin to expand education cooperation with ASEAN countries including the Philippines.

H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ACC, briefed in her remarks on the fruitful achievements of ASEAN-China cooperation, and the recent work of ACC. She commended the Philippines for its important contributions to promoting ASEAN community building and ASEAN-China practical cooperation as the rotating Chair of ASEAN in 2017. She stated that at present, ASEAN and China are both on a crucial stage of development and thus enjoy broad prospects in further promoting the strategic partnership. As a flagship project of ACC, the Lecture Series by ASEAN and Chinese Ambassadors provides a useful platform for promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the general public of both sides, students in particular. ASEAN-China friendship needs to be carried forward by the younger generations. She hoped that students would have faith in dreams, cherish the precious time to study harder, shoulder the historic mission to become the backbone for national development and the envoy for ASEAN-China friendly exchanges.

H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Buensuceso delivered a speech titled “ASEAN and China: Strategic Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity” in which she reviewed the process and achievements of ASEAN over the past 50 years and stated that ASEAN now is pushing forward the building of ASEAN community and has already grown into a leading regional organization, and an important driving force for Asian economic development. ASEAN possesses centrality in the regional architecture and plays an important role in maintaining regional development and prosperity. At present, ASEAN is guided by goals set in ASEAN Community Vision 2025 to substantively push forward the integration process and the building of a community with peace, stability and resilience so as to make greater contributions to peace and development of the region and the world at large.

H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Buensuceso briefed the audience on the development of ASEAN-China relations, and the fruitful outcomes of the 20th ASEAN-China Summit concluded in Manila in November 2017. She pointed out that since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1991, ASEAN-China relations have enjoyed all-around and in-depth development and have grown rapidly to become one of ASEAN’s most substantive Dialogue Partners. This year, both sides jointly undertook a series of activities to highlight the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation, which injected fresh impetus into bilateral relations. Next year will mark the 15th anniversary of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership and the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation. Both sides agreed on formulating an ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030. She believed that under the concerted efforts of ASEAN Member States and China, ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership will make greater achievements to better benefit the people of both sides.

Afterwards, H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Buensuceso, Ms. Jiang Qin, Chargé d’ Affairs of the Mission of China to ASEAN, H.E. Mr. Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana, Ambassador of the Philippines to China, H.E. Mr. Chilman Arisman, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN, H.E. Mr. Min Lwin, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to ASEAN, H.E. Ms. Phasporn Sangasubana, Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Hoanh Nam, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to ASEAN, and Mr. Sok Thea. First Secretary of Permanent Mission of Cambodia to ASEAN, interacted with the participating students. They shared their views on ASEAN and ASEAN-China relations, and encouraged students to actively follow ASEAN and ASEAN-China relations and cherish the valuable studying opportunity so as to make their own share in promoting ASEAN-China friendship and cooperation. The speakers also answered questions on several topics , to name a few, Philippines-China relations, the prospect of ASEAN-China education exchanges, the personnel demands of ASEAN countries for related graduates, expanding two-way student exchanges, etc. in a warm atmosphere.

Prior to the lecture, Vice Mayor Lan Yan met with the guests for the lecture and exchanged views on cooperation between Guilin and ASEAN. Mr. Gu Tianlong, President of Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Mr. Li Jiayong, Vice President of Guangxi Normal University, Mr. Zhou Guoqing, Vice President of Guilin University of Technology, and Mr. Lin Yejiang, Vice Party Secretary of Guilin Tourism University, attended the meeting and the lecture. All the guests also visited the exhibition of history and development of Guangxi Normal University.