On 23 March 2021, theASEAN-China Centre (ACC) organized a visit to the Headquarters of BeijingKuaishou Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as “Kuaishou”) for officials from embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS) including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. The officials exchanged views with the management of the company. 

Guided by Kuaishou commentator, Mr. Djauhari Oratmangun, Ambassador of Indonesia to China, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, directors of ACC and officials of AMS embassiesvisited the Kuaishou hall and the virtual showroom. Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun’s experience in live streaming and avatar character made the visit quite convivial.

After touring the showroom, the officials had a discussion withthe representatives of Kuaishou. Mr. Liu Zhen, Vice-President of Kuaishou, welcomed all the visitors. He expressed the hope that Kuaishou and the APP SnackVideo could kick-start the ASEAN market and bring more opportunities and outcomes of innovation from China to AMS. On behalf of the AMS embassies, Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun appreciated ACC for organizing the visit. He welcomed Kuaishou’s decision in choosing Indonesia as the first stop to explore ASEAN market and expected further cooperation in e-commerce and toursim. ACC Secretary-General Chen Dehai expressed ACC’s willingness to build connections of cooperation between Chinese enterprises including Kuaishou and AMS, promoting more outcomes of innovation from the two sides.

Officials from AMS embassies communicated with Kuaishou onthe company’s current cooperation with ASEAN, competitive products and technologies, as well as the prospect in ASEAN markets. Among them were Mr. See Chee Kong, Minister of Economic Section, Mr. Khor Tark Wei, Minister Counsellor of Investment Section, and Mrs. Razida Razak, Minister Counsellorof Trade Section from theEmbassy of Malaysia, Mr. Thongsavanh Phyathep, Minister Counsellor from the Embassy of Lao PDR, Mr. Sittikorn Chantadansuwan, Minister Counsellor from the Embassy of Thailand, Mr. Prak Phannara, Commercial Counsellor from the Embassy of Cambodia, and Mr. Nong Duc Lai, Commercial Counsellor from the Embassy of VietNam.

ACC will continue following the exchanges and cooperation in digital economy between ASEAN and China, supporting the high-quality development driven by innovation of the two sides, and promoting more progresses in deeper, more substantive ASEAN-China partnership.