On 28 January 2021, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) held a media networking activity among media officials of AMS embassies in China, ASEAN media representatives in Beijing and Chinese mainstream media. Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, Mr. Arianto Sujoro, Director of Information and Public Relations Division (IPRD) of ACC, Mr. He Fei, Deputy-director of IPRD of ACC, media officials from 10 AMS embassies, a journalist from the Star (Malaysia), and representatives from People.com, Chinadaily.com.cn, Huanqiu.com, CCTV+, China Report ASEAN magazine and Sina.com attended the event.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai thanked all participating partners for the strong support to ACC in the past year and extended best wishes of the Chinese New Year to everyone. He mentioned that in the context of the global outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, ASEAN and China have been helping each other in difficult times, setting an example for global anti-pandemic cooperation and work resumption. Focusing on the priority areas of cooperation and the theme of ASEAN-China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation, the two sides have held a series of media exchange activities with fruitful results, which have enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and made important contributions to ASEAN-China practical cooperation. The year 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations and the ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation. Media is bound to play a greater role in promoting ASEAN-China relations. He hoped that the media of both sides would continue to support and work closely with each other to strengthen cooperation and nurture favorable public opinion for the development of ASEAN-China relations to lift ASEAN-China relations to a new level. Director Arianto Sujoro reviewed and summarized ACC’s major projects in 2020 in the field of information and public relations and briefed on the work priorities in media in 2021.

All representatives from ASEAN and China thanked ACC for organising the networking activity, and echoed that this event built a useful platform for in-depth communication and exchanges between the two sides,which is crucial for enhancing mutual understanding, deepening friendship and promoting cooperation. They said that they will continue to work together with ACC to deepen ASEAN-China media exchanges and cooperation and make greater contributions to the development of ASEAN-China friendly relations.