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On 9 September 2018, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Mr. Han Baochang, Director-General of China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Administrative Bureau in Chongqing. Mr. Sun Xiyong, Deputy Director-General of the Administrative Bureau, Mr. Qi Xiaofeng, Assistant Director-General of the Administrative Bureau, Ms. Huang Ying, Director of General Affairs and Coordination Division (GACD) of ACC and Ms. Ding Yue, Deputy Director of GACD of ACC were present.

Director-General Han Baochang made a brief introduction on the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity. He said that as the third inter-governmental cooperation project between China and Singapore, the Initiative is under the theme of “Modern Connectivity and Modern Services Economy” and sticks to the principle of “Mutual Benefit, Profitable and Replicable Model, and Sustainable Development”. The Initiative focuses on financial services, aerospace industry, transportation and logistics, information and communications technology, which will contribute to the building of the Southern Transport Corridor connecting the Belt and Road. By May 2018, 116 projects had been signed under the initiative with an accumulated value of over USD 20 billion. The Bureau hopes that through the special platform of ACC, more ASEAN countries could participate in the Initiative, and jointly make new contributions to the regional connectivity and ASEAN-China strategic partnership.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai commended the positive progress of the Initiative and briefed on ACC’s recent work. He said that enhancing the regional connectivity is vital to strengthening ASEAN-China practical cooperation. The Initiative covers such areas as trade, investment, education and tourism, which is highly compatible with the work priorities of ACC. ACC will continue to play its role as a one-stop information and activities centre, support the building of the Southern Transport Corridor and jointly uplift the ASEAN-Chongqing practical cooperation to a new height.