On 6 August 2023, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in collaboration with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Fujian Provincial Council, Foreign Affairs Office of the Government of Fujian Province, and Fuzhou Municipal Government, co-hosted the ASEAN-China (Fujian) Cooperation Forum on Trade and Investment in Fuzhou. H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC, H.E. Vice Governor Guo Ningning of Fujian Province, H.E. Secretary Ayodhia Kalake of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia, and H.E. Ambassador Peter Tan Hai Chuan of Singapore to China attended and addressed the Forum. As one of the parallel activities of the ASEAN-China Week 2023, the Forum attracted more than 300 representatives from Embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS) in Beijing, government agencies, enterprises and chambers of commerce from both AMS and China with Fujian Province included, and witnessed in-depth discussions and exchange of views among the participants.  

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun stated that ASEAN and China have embarked on a promising journey of economic integration and win-win cooperation. The business communities not only witnessed the vigorous growth of ASEAN-China economic and trade relations, but also participated in and benefited from the win-win cooperation between both sides. ASEAN and China are highly complementary in emerging industries and the enterprises have a strong desire for exchanges and cooperation. In recent years, both sides have launched a large number of flagship projects in such fields as digital economy, production capacity cooperation, renewable energy, and new energy vehicles (NEV), which have demonstrated brighter prospects for quality development. It is expected that the Forum could build a useful platform for the Chinese enterprises to seek better opportunities of investment and future operation in AMS. 

Vice Governor Guo Ningning stressed that Fujian Province is ready to deepen trade and investment cooperation with ASEAN and contribute to the steady and long-term development of ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era. Secretary Ayodhia introduced the Indonesia-China “Two Countries Twin Parks” cooperation projects and expressed expectations on more achievements in the future. Ambassador Tan Hai Chuan underlined that Singapore is willing to work with the Chinese (Fujian) business communities to make the most of potential in emerging fields such as digital economy so as to draw on each other’s strength and realize a win-win cooperation.

Senior officials in charge of economic, trade and investment from the Embassies of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar and Viet Nam in China promoted their trade and investment policies, interacted with the Chinese enterprises and answered the inquiries from the floor. H.E. Lin Baojin, Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, delivered a keynote speech on Fuzhou’s participation in the high-quality development of China -Indonesia “Two Countries Twin Parks”. Government officials from Fuzhou, Zhangzhou of Fujian Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Fujian’s business representatives introduced their cooperation projects with the AMS. In addition, a launching and signing ceremony of Indonesia-China cooperation projects was also held on the occasion.