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On 3 June 2018, H.E. Ms. Ai Lihua, Vice Governor of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region met with the delegation of representatives of ASEAN Embassies in Hohhot. H.E. Mr. Thit Linn Ohn, Ambassador of Myanmar to China, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), representatives from Embassies of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam, Mr. Shi Mo, Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Mr. Fu Yongchun, Director-General of Foreign Affairs (Overseas Chinese Affairs) Office (FAO) of the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Mr. Du Bin, Deputy Director-General of Inner Mongolia FAO, Mr. Hou Yuan, Director-General of Inner Mongolia Education Department, Mr. Li Xiaoqiu, Deputy Director-General of Inner Mongolia Cultural Department, Mr. Zhang Yujun, Deputy Director-General of Inner Mongolia Tourism Development Committee, Mr. Li Chunsheng, Deputy Director-General of Inner Mongolia Commerce Department, Mr. Liu Wenyu, Executive Vice Mayor of Hohhot Municipal City and Ms. Huang Ying, Director of General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC were present.

Vice Governor Ai Lihua warmly welcomed the delegation to visit Inner Mongolia. She made a brief introduction of the economic-social development and opening up of the autonomous region. She said that as the first established provincial autonomous region of ethnic minorities in China, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has a splendid cultural history, beautiful landscape, charming ethnic customs, rich natural resources and advantageous strategic location. ASEAN is a priority region of China’s neighbouring diplomacy. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang paid a successful visit to Indonesia in May 2018, where he attended the launching ceremony of the 15th anniversary of ASEAN-China strategic partnership held at ASEAN Secretariat and delivered an important speech. Inner Mongolia is committed to opening up and attaches great importance to expanding cooperation with ASEAN countries. In recent years, Inner Mongolia had actively participated in EXPOs like China-ASEAN EXPO and undertaken cooperation with ASEAN countries in such areas as education, trade and investment. There are commercial flights operating between Hohhot and Bangkok now. She further said that Inner Mongolia is open to warmly welcome ASEAN friends’ visits for tourism and investment,and hopes to continuously deepen the cooperation in economy, connectivity, education and tourism. She spoke highly of the positive role played by ACC to promote ASEAN-China cooperation and hoped ACC to continuously play its bridging role and actively support Inner Mongolia to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN.

Ambassador Thit Linn Ohn thanked the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for the thoughtful arrangements and thanked ACC for organizing this visit. He congratulated Inner Mongolia on its achievements in economic-social development and opening up. He said that ASEAN and China are good neighbours, good friends and good partners connected by mountains and rivers. Since Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, Chinese provinces including Inner Mongolia had actively taken part in the Initiative, undertaken all-round cooperation with ASEAN countries and achieved fruitful results. He believed that this visit would enable the delegation to further understand Inner Mongolia. The delegation would like to play its positive role in facilitating Inner Mongolia to expand friendly cooperation with ASEAN countries.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping briefly introduced ASEAN-China relations and ACC’s mandate. She thanked the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for the great support rendered to the delegation. She said that by organizing this visit, ACC hoped to provide a useful platform for both sides to enhance communications and deepen cooperation. ACC would continue to play its role as a one-stop information and activities centre, actively support Inner Mongolia in expanding its exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN, join hands with friends of both sides and push forward the ASEAN-Inner Mongolia and ASEAN-China practical cooperation to produce more outcomes that benefit both peoples.