On 13 July 2018, H.E. Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), met with Mr. Luo Qiang, Mayor of Chengdu and exchanged views on strengthening friendly cooperation between Chengdu and ASEAN countries. Ms. Liu Xiaoliu, Vice Mayor of Chengdu, Mr. Mao Zhixiong, Deputy Chief of Chengdu Municipal Cultural Administrative System Reform and Cultural Industry Development Leading Group, and Ms. Zhou Hui, Deputy Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division of ACC, attended the meeting.

Mr. Luo Qiang welcomed Secretary-General Chen Dehai to Chengdu and briefed on the opening of Chengdu to the outside world, in particular the friendly exchanges with ASEAN countries. He said that Chengdu is rich in natural resources and has important strategic location with significant geographical advantage. It is committed to building an important national economic, scientific, financial, cultural and creative, foreign exchange centre and international integrated transportation hub. In 2017, the regional GDP reached RMB1.39 trillion.

ASEAN is a priority for Chengdu to implement its opening-up strategy. Chengdu has established sister-city relations with relevant provinces and cities of ASEAN such as Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Thailand, and has opened direct flights to Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and other countries. ACC is an important platform for promoting cooperation between ASEAN and China. It is expected that ACC will continue to support Chengdu to further expand practical cooperation with ASEAN countries in the areas of sister city, economy, trade, education and culture, to promote more mutual benefits and win-win results.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai thanked the Chengdu Municipal Government for the vigorous support to ACC’s work and the thoughtful facilitation and assistance provided for the ASEAN-China Youth Summer Camp. He stated that this year is the 15th anniversary of ASEAN-China strategic partnership and ASEAN-China Year of Innovation. ASEAN-China relations have entered a new era and have broad prospects. He commended the fruitful achievements of friendly exchanges between Chengdu and ASEAN countries, and hoped that Chengdu will seize new important opportunities, fully play its advantages and make new contributions to ASEAN-China relations. ACC will actively support the friendly exchanges and cooperation between provinces and cities of both sides and will continuously play its role of a one-stop information and activities centre and serve as a bridge for deepening friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between Chengdu and ASEAN on the key areas and needs of bilateral cooperation.

After the meeting, Secretary-General Chen and Mayor Luo attended the welcome dinner of the ASEAN-China Youth Summer Camp and interacted with the students participating in the summer camp.

During the visit in Chengdu, Secretary-General Chen also had meetings with Zheng Li, Director of the Sichuan Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and Wang Qingyuan, President of Chengdu University, and exchanged views on promoting economic and trade exchange and higher education cooperation between Sichuan and ASEAN countries.