On 24 October 2020，Mr. Zhang Hongsen, member of the Standing Committee of Hunan CPC Provincial Committee and Head of Publicity Department of Hunan CPC Provincial Committee, met with a delegation of diplomats and journalists from ASEAN Member States (AMS) stationed in Beijing. Headed by Mr. Dino R. Kusnadi, Minister and DCM of the Indonesian Embassy in China, the delegation includes diplomats from nine embassies of Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as journalists from Viet Nam and Malaysia. Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), Ms. Chen Shi, Deputy Editor-in-chief of China International Publishing Group (CIPG) and President of China Report Press, Mr. Qing Lixin, Deputy Head of Publicity Department of Hunan CPC Provincial Committee, Mr. Ning Jianye, director-general level official of Department of Industry and Information Technology of Hunan Province, Mr. Ye Jinsong, Deputy Director-General of Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of Hunan CPC Provincial Committee and Mr. Zhao Chengxin, Deputy Director-General of Department of Poverty Alleviation of Hunan Province, attended the meeting.

On behalf of Hunan CPC Provincial Committee and Government, Minister Zhang Hongsen expressed warm welcome to the delegation and briefed on the history and culture of Hunan Province and its economic and social development. He said Hunan is a major province in central China with an excellent ecological environment, a long history and profound cultural heritages. In recent years, with its economy developing rapidly, Hunan Province has been striving to build itself into a manufacturing powerhouse and has maintained a strong growth momentum in culture and tourism industry. Hunan Province and ASEAN countries have sustained sound cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, education, tourism, culture and media. The delegation couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment. It is hoped that the delegation will enhance its comprehensive understanding of Hunan through this visit. He looked forward to working with ASEAN countries to make new contributions to building a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future. Mr. Ning Jianye and Mr. Zhao Chengxin respectively briefed the delegation on the development of digital economy and targeted poverty alleviation work in Hunan Province.

Minister Dino thanked Hunan Provincial Government for the warm reception and thoughtful arrangements and expressed his admiration and high appreciation for the social and economic achievements that Hunan had made. He spoke positively of the accomplishments of Hunan Province in promoting digital economy development and targeted poverty alleviation, and expressed willingness to jointly work with all parties, including ACC, to make new progress for the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership and to promote friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields between Hunan Province and ASEAN Member States. He noted that people-to-people and cultural exchanges are playing an increasingly important role in ASEAN-China relations. The media from both sides should give play to their respective advantages, strengthen cooperation, promote information sharing and enhance experience exchanges for development.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai said that the current visit to Hunan is an important part of the ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum which was successfully held the day before. It is believed that the visit will further enhance ASEAN people’s understanding about Hunan Province and make them like Hunan, fall in love with Hunan and invest in Hunan. Touching upon the mandate and mission of ACC, he stressed that ACC, as an international organization jointly established by China and ASEAN countries, would continue to play its role as a bridge and bond and make greater contributions to deepening friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between Chinese provinces and ASEAN countries.

 

Deputy Editor-in-chief Chen Shi said CIPG and China Report Press (CRP) are committed to promoting exchanges and cooperation between media and think-tanks from home and abroad by carrying out various activities to enhance media and cultural exchanges between China and ASEAN Member States. She hoped to strengthen coordination and collaboration with Hunan and other Chinese provinces, to present China’s stories internationally and promote the development of ASEAN-China friendly relations.

 

This is the third consecutive year for ACC to organise a trip of such kind outside Beijing. The event was co-hosted by ACC and CIPG, and organised by China Report Press affiliated to CIPG.