On 7 April 2023, the RCEP & Hebei Series Activities • Hebei (Caofeidian) Cooperation and Development Conference, co-hosted by the Hebei Provincial Department of Commerce, the Tangshan Municipal Government, and the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), was successfully held in Tangshan, Hebei Province. Mr. Wu Weidong, Member of the CPC Hebei Provincial Standing Committee and Secretary of Tangshan Municipal Committee, attended the conference. H. E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC, Former Under-Secretary-General Sha Zukang of the United Nations, as well as representatives of Hebei Provincial Department of Commerce, the Embassy of Indonesia in China, and the Embassy of Thailand in China attended the conference and delivered speeches.

Secretary General Shi noted that ASEAN and China have strong economic and trade complementarities and extensive areas of cooperation. The effective implementation of the RCEP has provided new momentum for ASEAN-China economic and trade cooperation. China and other RCEP member countries, including the ASEAN Member States, should continue to promote the high-quality implementation of the RCEP to further uncap the potential economic development dividends of the RCEP, and work together for more mutual benefits and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the conference, Secretary General Shi along with other participants inaugurated the RCEP (Tangshan) Implementation Demonstration Zone, and witnessed the signing of 10 RCEP projects of Hebei Province. The conference also witnessed via video the launching of the maiden voyage of the Tangshan Port (China)-Ho Chi Minh Port (Vietnam)-Laem Chabang Port (Thailand) shipping route.