On 18 and 19 October 2022, H. E. Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), paid a courtesy call on Mr. Dinno Oblena, Charge d’Affaires, a. i. of the Philippine Embassy in China and met with Ms. Zin Mar Htwe, Charge d’Affaires, a. i. of the Myanmar Embassy in China. Ms. Wang Hongliu, Director of the General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC, Ms, Li Yaying, Deputy Director of the Education, Culture and Tourism Division of ACC, Ms. Aye Mon Paing, Counsellor of the Myanmar Embassy in China and Mr. Venince Allen Carillo, Third Secretary of the Philippine Embassy in China respectively joined the meetings. 

Secretary-General Shi extended appreciation for the long-standing support rendered by the Embassies of the Philippines and Myanmar in China to ACC. He said that ASEAN and China are the key supporting forces for peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. In the current international situation, the strategic significance and influence of ASEAN-China relations become increasingly prominent. Since the establishment of ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the end of last year, the bilateral relationship has been elevated to a higher level. Taking office at this important moment, he is fully aware of both the glorious mission and great responsibility. ACC will keep closer contact with the Embassies of the Philippines and Myanmar in China to deepen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between ASEAN and China, as well as bilaterally, host more activities that meet the practical demands of all parties, enhance mutual trust and friendship, and promote the further development of ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 

Mr. Dinno Oblena warmly welcomed Secretary-General Shi Zhongjun’s assumption of his new post. He stressed that the Philippine Embassy has always attached great importance to ACC, given its full support as well as actively participated in activities held by ACC. In the past three years, despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, ACC has organised activities in various forms, which effectively strengthened communication and cooperation between ASEAN and various ministries as well as local provinces and cities in China, and continuously unleashed new dynamite for the development of the relationship. The Philippine Embassy is willing to keep on enhancing communication with ACC and further expanding fields of cooperation to jointly promote the further development of ASEAN-China relations. 

Ms. Zin Mar Htwe expressed her congratulations on Secretary-General Shi Zhongjun’s assumption of office and extended her appreciation for the various activities held by ACC, especially the recent capacity building project for education and tourism practitioners from Myanmar. She said that Myanmar attached great importance to the cooperation with ACC and hoped that ACC could continue to actively play its role as an one-stop information and activities center, enhance ASEAN-China exchanges and cooperation in the fields of tourism, education, culture and media, and provide assistance for developing countries like Myanmar. The Government and the Embassy of Myanmar would continue supporting the work of ACC.