From 3 to 9 June 2021, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and China International Publishing Group (CIPG) co-hosted a familiarisation trip for diplomats and journalists from ASEAN Member States (AMS) stationed in Beijing to visit Gansu Province. Headed by Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, the delegation consisted of diplomats from seven AMS embassies in China, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as journalists stationed in Beijing from Viet Nam, Indonesia and Malaysia. Ms. Zhao Jun, Editor-in-Chief of China Report Press of CIPG joined in all activities of the delegation. 

The delegation travelled to Lanzhou City, Zhangye City, Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Jiayuguan City, Guazhou County of Jiuquan and Dunhuang City of Jiuquan successively. During the visit, Mr. Sun Wei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee, Mr. Wang Jiayi, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Head of its Publicity Department, Mr. Cheng Guangping, Executive Deputy Mayor of Zhangye, Mr. Li Zhongke, Secretary of Jiayuguan Municipal Party Committee, Mr. Zhu Jianjun, Mayor of Dunhuang, and other officials from local governments met with the delegation respectively.

The delegation visited Lanzhou University, met with Vice President Li Yumin, and had a discussion with the ASEAN students. The delegation investigated in the Flower Auction and Trading Center in Lanzhou New Area, Gansu New Media Group, Haisheng Modern Intelligent Greenhouse Cultivation Demonstration Project, Zhangye Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park and the 100MW Molten Salt Solar Thermal Power Plant developed by Dunhuang Shouhang Resources Saving Co., Ltd. and other well-known enterprises. The delegation also visited the Gansu Provincial Museum, Jiayuguan Pass of the Great Wall, Guazhou County Yulin Grottoes, Dunhuang Mogao Caves and other cultural resources and world-level cultural heritage, and made a field trip to various sorts of natural tourism resources such as Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, Bars Snow Mountain and the Mingsha Mountain, which made an in-depth experience of Gansu’s rich ancient history, splendid culture and the vast diversity of geography. 

Through this trip, the delegation earnestly studied the economic and social development in Gansu province, focusing on the development of advanced agriculture, logistics, new energy, intelligent manufacturing, media, culture and tourism industry of the province, made in-depth exchanges of experiences on progress of ecological civilization, sustainable development and poverty alleviation with all parties. They also held profound discussions on further expanding practical cooperation in various fields and cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Gansu and AMS. Mr. Guo Jinshi, Director General of the Information Office of the Gansu Provincial Government, accompanied the delegation to attend the above activities.

The participating diplomats and journalists from AMS stationed in Beijing thanked the organisers and the Gansu Provincial Government for their meticulous organisation and thoughtful arrangements, and spoke highly of the visit and agreed that the visit was full of contents, highlights and fruitful results. Members of the delegation said that the visit coincided with the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting In Celebration Of the 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations, and was of great positive significance as it demonstrated the aspiration of China and AMS to deepen friendly cooperation and create a better future.

Through this visit, the delegates had a true, multi-dimensional and panoramic view of Gansu's natural geography, history and culture, as well as its economic and social development, and gained a profound impression of Gansu's location advantage in the Belt and Road international cooperation, resource endowment, advanced enterprises and ecological civilization. They further recognized the bright prospect of Gansu's development and the huge potential of its cooperation with AMS. They deemed that the local people are warm, friendly and sincere, and the visit to Gansu has enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the two sides, which was unforgettable. They indicated that they would seize the opportunity of the development of ASEAN-China relations, attach more importance to the local cooperation between the two sides, actively publicize and promote Gansu, encourage more people from AMS to travel, study, invest and do business in Gansu, and promote bilateral practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges to a new level. They look forward to ACC’s continuing to organize such visits, which will inject new impetus into deepening exchanges and expanding cooperation between AMS and Chinese provinces and cities.

Local media such as Gansu Daily and Sunan Convergence Media followed and covered various activities along the trip. Diplomats of AMS embassies in China actively accepted interviews with the media and talked glowingly about their feelings and experiences on the trip. The Viet Nam Television and Indonesia Antara News correspondents in Beijing gave full coverage to the Gansu trip.