On 19 July 2021, co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Henan Province, Department of Commerce of Henan Province, and CCPIT Henan Sub-Council, the ASEAN-China (Henan) Trade and Investment Promotion Seminar was successfully held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce of China, officials of relevant departments of Henan Provincial Government and Zhengzhou Municipal Government, representatives from embassies and consulates of ASEAN Member States (AMS) in China as well as representatives from Henan economic and trade organizations and enterprises attended the Promotion Seminar.

Mr. He Jinping, Vice Governor of Henan Province, Mr. Wei Yan, Deputy Director-General of Asian Department of Ministry of Commerce of China, Mr. Djauhari Oratmangun, Ambassador of Indonesia to China, Mme. Khamphao Ernthavanh, Ambassador of Lao PDR to China, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC and other participants attended and addressed the Promotion Seminar.

He Jinping said that in recent years, Henan Province has thoroughly implemented major national strategies such as ecological protection of the Yellow River Basin and promotion of high-quality development of central China, and achieved remarkable results by actively integrating into the building of the BRI and promoting high-level opening-up. He looked forward to developing all-round, multi-field and high-quality economic and trade cooperation with AMS and promote the bilateral friendly relations to a new level. 

Chen Dehai said that ASEAN-China cooperation is highly resilient and has great potential. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has opened up broader future for ASEAN-China cooperation. Under the new situation, Henan Province will open its door wider to the outside world and further expand practical cooperation with AMS.

In their speeches, Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun and Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh appreciated China's adherence to multilateralism and the promotion of regional cooperation. They praised the achievements of ASEAN-China bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation and looked forward to further strengthening exchanges and cooperation with China, especially Henan Province, to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results.

Wei Yan said that opening-up and integration are irresistible historical trends in the era of economic globalization. China will continue to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, actively participate in multilateral cooperation and deepen regional economic integration. He welcomed all participants to share the great opportunities in the Chinese market.

At the Promotion Seminar, officials in charge of economic, trade and investment cooperation from embassies and consulates of AMS in China, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand made presentations on business environment and investment policies of AMS, and conducted in-depth exchanges with Henan enterprises. Heads of Department of Commerce of Henan Province, Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone and Henan Zhoukou Port briefed on economic and social development, investment preferential policies and advantages of location and logistics of Henan Province.

On the same day, Secretary-General Chen Dehai and AMS participants exchanged in-depth views with Vice Governor He Jinping and Mayor Hou Hong of Zhengzhou on promoting the exchange and cooperation with AMS and Henan province. All participants visited Zhengzhou Area of China (Henan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Zhengzhou International Hub, Wanbang International Group, new energy factory of Zhengzhou Yutong Bus and Henan Provincial Museum. ACC also organized ASEAN guests to visit the ASEAN food and fruit import base in Henan Province.