In the evening of 28 March 2018, the Closing Ceremony of the International Symposium on Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership was held in Nanning after a whole day of lively discussions. Mr. Liu Zhengdong, Vice Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi University, and H.E. Mr. Thit Linn Ohn, Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, delivered remarks at the closing ceremony.

Vice Chairman Liu Zhengdong spoke highly of the positive outcomes of the symposium. He acknowledged that all experts had extensive, intensive and productive academic exchanges on the theme “New Era, New Vision, New Opportunities”, and analyzed the development process, achievements as well as opportunities and challenges since the establishment of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership 15 years ago. All participants shared their opinions and observations, and contributed many strategic, comprehensive and innovative views and suggestions for deepening ASEAN-China relations and pushing forward the building of ASEAN-China Community of a Shared Future, which laid a good foundation for the prospective, targeted and reserved researches in future. Currently, China and ASEAN are working jointly to build a higher level of strategic partnership and the future is bright. Guangxi University would like to join hands with all sectors and make more contributions to continuously promoting ASEAN-China cooperation and ASEAN-China Community of a Shared Future.

Ambassador Thit Linn Ohn congratulated on the success of the symposium. He said that China and ASEAN countries are good neighbours and partners connected by land and sea. China and ASEAN remained firmly committed to good-neighbourliness and friendship, continuously strengthened high-level exchanges and policy communication, enhanced political and security cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges, which provided a strong impetus for regional economic cooperation. He said in recent years, ASEAN and China have been holding a series of “ASEAN-China Year” activities on science and technology, education, culture and tourism. This year is designated as the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation. China has been pursuing a strategy of innovation-driven development, and ASEAN is also laying strategic priority on innovation development. There is large potential for both sides to enhance innovation cooperation. During the symposium, experts and scholars from ASEAN and China actively discussed and exchanged views on the experiences and inspiration of 15 years of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership, shared ideas and insights on ASEAN-China economic and trade cooperation, new opportunities for innovation cooperation and how to promote the people-to-people exchanges. He believed that this symposium would help raise the both peoples’ awareness of the relations between ASEAN and China. He hoped that ASEAN and China would continue to strengthen the relations by respecting each other, jointly safeguarding the regional peace and development and advancing cooperation in all dimensions at all levels in multiple areas.

Participants extended their congratulations on the success of the symposium and sincere appreciation to the hosts for providing such an important opportunity for experts and scholars from China and ASEAN to have face-to-face and thought-provoking exchanges on advancing cooperation. They all believed that the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership could achieve greater development in the new era and make greater contribution to the peace, stability and prosperity of this region.?