On 13 December 2022, the 12th Joint Council Meeting of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was held online. The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Yeap Samnang, Permanent Representative to ASEAN of Cambodia, the rotating chair of ASEAN, and Mr. Qu Boxun, Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim of the Chinese Mission to ASEAN. H.E. Mr. Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of ACC, officers of ACC divisions, Mr. Li Xin, representative of co-chairs of the Joint Executive Board (JEB) of ACC and Counselor of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, members of the Joint Council (JC), members of JEB and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat attended the meeting.

Mr. Yeap Samnang said that since the last JC meeting, ASEAN-China cooperation in various fields has been fruitful and new progress has been made in the relations. At the 25th ASEAN-China Summit held in Cambodia last month, leaders of the two sides reached important consensus, expressing strong commitment and determination to further enhance cooperation in trade and other fields and push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between ASEAN and China. He strongly believed that ACC will play an even more important role in supporting friendly cooperation between ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China and further developing the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mr. Qu Boxun said that the 20th CPC National Congress made it clear that China will adhere to the neighbourhood policy of building friendship and partnership with its neighbours based on the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and will deepen friendship, mutual trust and convergence of interests with the neighbouring countries. China regards ASEAN high on its neighborhood diplomatic agenda and supports ASEAN in playing an important role in global governance. This year marks the first year for the building of China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides have focused on implementing the “five proposals on building our home together” and promoted exchanges and cooperation in various fields. It is expected that ACC will continue to give full play to its unique advantages and positive role and make greater contributions to deepening China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and building a closer China-ASEAN community of shared future.

Members of the Joint Council congratulated Secretary-General Shi Zhongjun on assuming office and highly commended ACC for overcoming the adverse impact of the epidemic and organising colourful activities to vigorously promote exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China in various fields over the past year. They expressed hope that in 2023, ACC will continue to serve as one-stop information and activities center, earnestly implement the outcomes of last year’s commemorative summit and this year’s leaders’ meeting, and focus on the cooperation theme of next year. They hoped that ACC would promote exchanges and cooperation between two sides in such areas as agricultural development, food security, post-epidemic recovery, connectivity, digital economy, green economy, blue economy and public health, so as to contribute to the further growth of the comprehensive strategic partnership between ASEAN and China.

Secretary-General Shi Zhongjun thanked the JC members for their strong support to ACC and to his own work. He said that 2022 is of special importance to both ASEAN and China, and ASEAN-China relations moved forward at a rapid pace with a strong momentum. Over the past year, ACC has earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by leaders of the two sides, worked with member states and partners to continuously deepen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields, and jointly implemented the “five proposals on building our home together”. In 2023, ACC will as always, implement the leaders’ consensus and the decisions of JC, focus on areas of shared interest, strive for innovation, make solid progress in organising activities in various fields, and constantly push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between ASEAN and China. Officials from various divisions reported on their work in key areas.

The meeting heard the report of the 2022 Joint Executive Board Meeting of ACC, deliberated on and adopted the Summary Record of the 11th Joint Council Meeting, the ACC Annual Report of 2022, and the Work Programme and Budget of Operational Expenditure of 2023, and discussed arrangements for the 13th JC meeting.