On 7 May 2019, Mr. Zhou Xi’an, Vice Governor of Anhui Province met with Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and officials of the ASEAN diplomatic missions in China participating in the ASEAN-China (Anhui) Trade and Investment Promotion Seminar in Hefei.

Vice Governor Zhou Xi’an said that the integration of the Yangtze River Delta in the new era has brought important development opportunities to Anhui, driving the latter to change from a traditional agricultural province to an emerging manufacturing province. ASEAN countries are among priorities for Anhui to deepen BRI international cooperation. Anhui hopes to strengthen ties with ACC and jointly promote exchanges and cooperation between Anhui and ASEAN countries in various areas.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai said that Anhui Province has made great efforts to develop strategic emerging industries and has become a pioneer of innovation-driven development in China. ACC was co-hosting the two-way trade and investment promotion seminar in Hefei in order to provide a platform for ASEAN countries and Anhui to promote trade and investment policies as well as business environment, help more Anhui enterprises to go abroad, and attract more ASEAN enterprises to invest in Anhui. ACC is willing to work with the Anhui Provincial Government to push forward practical cooperation between Anhui and ASEAN countries to a new level.

Diplomats from the Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as representative of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of China attended the meeting.