On 25 April 2023, the ASEAN-China (Binzhou) Industrial Cooperation Conference, co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People’s Government, the Binzhou Municipal People’s Government, was successfully held in Binzhou City, Shandong Province. Mr. Song Yongxiang, Secretary of the CPC Binzhou Municipal Committee, H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), Mr. Cai Xianjin, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People’s Government, Mr. Benjamin Sukanjanajtee, Minister of the Royal Thai Embassy in China, attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the conference. 

Secretary General Shi noted in his speech that since the Dialogue Relationship was established over 30 years ago, ASEAN-China cooperation has achieved leapfrog development.  The two sides have established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Economic and trade cooperation is an important pillar of ASEAN-China relations. ASEAN and China are each other’s largest trading partner and important investment destination, with two-way trade hitting a record high. The economic and trade cooperation between ASEAN and China has grown by leaps and bounds, becoming a booster of regional development and prosperity. 

Industrial sector is key to economic growth. ASEAN and China enjoy strong industrial complementarity and broad scope and potential for industrial cooperation. The implementation of the RCEP and the launch of the Version 3.0 of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area will further promote the opening up of markets between ASEAN and China, accelerate the free flow of goods, technology, human resources, capital, and information, and strengthen the industrial division of labor in the region, which will further deepen ASEAN-China economic and trade cooperation, promote regional economic development and contribute to global economic recovery. 

ASEAN-China (Binzhou) Industrial Cooperation Conference provided an important platform for all sides to have an in-depth exchange of views to explore new opportunities and new pathways for mutually beneficial industrial cooperation so as to help the trade and economic cooperation between Binzhou City and the ASEAN Member States (AMS) reap more tangible fruits. The ASEAN-China Center is willing to continue to play the role of a bridge to support, publicize and participate in the exchanges and cooperation between Shandong Province and the AMS in various fields, and make unremitting efforts to promote the steady and sound development of ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Economic, Commercial and Investment Counsellors from the embassies of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar in China promoted their trade and investment policies during the conference. 

On the sidelines of the event, Secretary General Shi and the AMS diplomatic delegation attended the 17th China (Boxing) International Kitchenware Festival, and visited leading enterprises in Binzhou, including Yuyue Home Textile Co., Ltd., Binzhou Zhongyu Group, Chumart Commercial Kitchenware Co., Chambroad Group Business Development Museum, Shandong WISKIND Architecture Steel Co., and Xiangchi Group Business Exhibition Hall.