On 23 May 2021, the RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum was held in Haikou, Hainan Province. At the opening ceremony, Mr.Jiang Jianguo, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech. Mr. Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia and President of the Asia Society Policy Institute, sent a video message. Ms. Xiao Yingzi, member of the Standing Committee and Director-General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Mr. Zhou Shuchun, member of the standing committee of the CPPCC and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily, Mr. Chi Fulin, President of the Hainan-based China Institute for Reform and Development and President of the China Institute for Free Trade Port with Chinese Characteristics, Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Ambassador of Thailand to China, and Mr. Dino Kusnadi, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indonesian Embassy in China, addressed the event. Mr.Kim Won-Soo, former under Secretary-General of the UN, and Mr. George Yeo, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, gave online keynote speeches at the plenary session. Mr. Arianto Surojo, Director of the Information and Public Relations Division of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), attended the forum upon invitation and made a presentation during the panel session for media.  

Mr. Arianto Surojo remarked that public communication represents a crucial stage after the signing of RCEP. Each RCEP member state should develop their own communication strategy for RCEP based on public interests and ensure the agenda-setting. Both traditional and new media, especially social media, should use their full strength to promote RCEP and its benefits among the public. He stated that ACC has been committed to encouraging ASEAN-China media cooperation and exchanges, and is willing to work with all parties concerned to ensure that media plays an active role in promoting RCEP cooperation to the next level.

The forum, co-hosted by the People’s Government of Hainan Province, China Daily, China Institute for Reform and Development and China Institute for Free Trade Ports with Chinese Characteristics, aims to build a platform to deepen cooperation among media and think tanks of RCEP member states. More than 300 participants joined the meeting online and offline. Among them were media and think tank representatives, diplomats and representatives of enterprises from China, ROK, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Singapore. 

During his stay in Hainan Province, Mr. Arianto Surojo, along with the officials from embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS), visited the Haikou Fullsing Town Internet Innovation Park, Jiangdong New Area Planning and Exhibition Centre and Coconut Palm Group.