On 26 March 2023, H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with the visiting H.E. Secretary General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn of ASEAN and his delegation at the Centre. During their meeting, the two Secretaries General shared a video on the ACC's development. H.E. Ambassador Hou Yanqi of China to ASEAN, Director Le Quang Lan of Market Integration of the ASEAN Secretariat, and Counsellor Li Xin of Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China were present.  

Secretary General Shi warmly welcomed Dr. Kao Kim Hourn to the ACC and thanked the ASEAN Secretariat for its long-standing strong support. Shi said that the post-pandemic era brings forth greater opportunities for further development of ASEAN-China relations, which will play a crucial role in accelerating regional economic recovery and sustainable development. The ACC stands ready to continue working with the ASEAN Secretariat for the purpose of deepening ASEAN-China cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and media, while opening new ground for cooperation relating to connectivity, sci-tech innovation, blue economy, public health and food security, so as to consistently enrich ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn appreciated the ACC’s hospitality and spoke highly of the key contribution by the ACC, since its establishment, to deepening ASEAN-China relations, which has witnessed both sides more integrated in common interests and the peoples sharing deeper mutual understanding. Kao said that 2023 marks the second year since the establishment of ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides have agreed to jointly implement important consensus between the ASEAN and Chinese leaders, press ahead with negotiations on Version 3.0 of the ASEAN-China FTA, secure high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, expand cooperation in emerging fields, and further strengthen people-to-people exchanges, especially youth exchanges. The ASEAN Secretariat is willing to, as always, render full support to the growth and undertakings of the ACC, and work with the ACC to build the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, generating rich results, mutual benefits and win-win situation for all.