On 12 January 2018, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), addressed the Opening Ceremony of the 12th China (Sanya) International Orchid Show.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping briefed on ASEAN-China relations and fruitful outcomes of bilateral practical cooperation in various fields. She stated that both sides celebrated the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation in 2017. This year is the 15th anniversary of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership and the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation. Both sides are actively synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative with ASEAN regional and national development strategies, particularly the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. Meanwhile, both sides are formulating the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 to map out development blueprint. As a result, cooperation in various areas is brimming with vigour and vitality.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping mentioned that orchid is well adored by the people of ASEAN countries and China and has become a cultural bond linking ASEAN countries and China and served as a useful bridge to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. At the same time, orchid industry, as a green industry, plays an increasingly important role in promoting sustainable development. ASEAN and China, with a huge market with 2 billion population, enjoy great potentials and broad prospects in orchid industrial cooperation. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully concluded last year, ushering in a new era for China’s development. China is pursuing the modernization characterized by harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and to meet people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and a beautiful environment. ASEAN is actively implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 to build a people-centred community on a higher level for deeper development, narrow the wealth gap, and increase people’s living standards. Against this backdrop, the orchid industrial exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China can play a big role in realizing both sides’ development blueprints and deepening the strategic partnership.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping said that Hainan province is committed to building itself into an international tourism island. It regards orchid industry as its unique industry, and cultivates a group of leading enterprises to formulate new industrial development patterns. Committed to the International Orchid Show, Sanya has made important contributions to promoting orchid culture and industrial cooperation. Under the theme of “Beautiful Flowers Connect the Silk Road, Orchid Fragrance Pervades the Whole World”, this year’s show has attracted around 130 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions among which 6 are from ASEAN countries. She believed that, with the joint efforts of all sides, the show will become a grand event of orchids and cultures, and contribute much more to the development of global orchid industry and Sanya’s exchanges and cooperation with countries across the world.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping outlined ACC’s mandate and its work in promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China. She cited that ACC is committed to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between ASEAN and China for common development. It places great emphasis on the key and priority areas of ASEAN-China cooperation, and works to connect the shareholders of both sides and facilitate their cooperation and exchanges in various areas. ACC will continue to play its role as a one-stop information and activities centre, strengthen contacts with various parties and seize the opportunity to raise ASEAN-China practical cooperation to a new height and deliver greater benefits to the people of both sides.