On 26 June 2018, the study visit to Singapore by government officials from ASEAN and China organized by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was launched in Singapore. Ms. Huang Ying, Director of General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC, Ms. Phoebe Luo Ming Xuan, Assistant Director of the ASEAN Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, government officials from Brunei, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam attended the launching ceremony.

Director Huang Ying, on behalf of ACC, welcomed all participants to join this study visit and thanked the Singaporean side, the Foreign Ministry and the Singaporean Embassy in China in particular, for the great support and assistance to this visit. She said this year marks the 15th anniversary of the ASEAN-China strategic partnership and the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation. This study visit is one of ACC’s important flagship projects in 2018. Nowadays, both ASEAN and China take innovation as an important driving force to promote social and economic sustainable development. She hoped that this study visit could provide an important opportunity for the government officials from ASEAN countries and China to further learn about Singapore’s good experience and measures taken to promote innovation, so as to strengthen mutual learning, explore ways to further tap cooperation potentials and promote common development.

Mr. Has Bunton, Secretary General of National Science and Technology Council of Ministry of Planning of Cambodia delivered remarks on behalf of all participants. He thanked ACC for the considerate arrangement and the Singaporean government for the great support. He said technology and innovation is vital for all countries especially developing countries to realize sustainable development. Programmes of this study visit is colourful and rich in content. He expected to further learn the experience of Singapore in promoting technology and innovation through this visit and make new efforts to advance ASEAN-China cooperation in technology and innovation.

Assistant Director Phoebe Luo Ming Xuan warmly welcomed the delegation to visit Singapore. She said that this study visit is highly relevant to the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation and the annual theme of ASEAN “Resilience and Innovation”. She mentioned that ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to exceed USD 200 billion by 2025, while China is one of the innovation and technological powerhouses in the world today. There is a large potential for both sides to strengthen cooperation in innovation. As the rotating chair of ASEAN, Singapore actively facilitates the establishment of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, with a view to contributing to ASEAN’s innovation driven development. She hoped that through this visit, the delegation could generate new ideas in advancing ASEAN-China innovation cooperation, and jointly push forward cooperation in related areas to produce more outcomes.

In the three-day visit, under the theme “Innovation Driven Development”, the delegation widely exchanged views with relevant government departments of Singapore, renowned universities, and enterprises on strengthening the ASEAN-China innovation cooperation.