On 19 September 2023, H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was invited to attend and address the Opening Ceremony of the Second Global Geographical Indications Products Expo (GIPE) & the Forum on China-EU Agreement on Geographical Indications in Luzhou, Sichuan Province. H.E. Ma Peihua, Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), H.E. Ning Jizhe, Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Director of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the CPPCC, and Vice President of China Center for International Economic Exchanges, and H.E. Yang Xingping, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun noted in his speech that the majority of the Geographical Indication (GI) products of ASEAN and China involve agricultural products. Both sides attach great importance to cooperation in agriculture. The 26th ASEAN-China Summit adopted ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Deepening Agricultural Cooperation and ASEAN-China Action Plan on Green Agricultural Development 2023-2027. The year 2023 is also the ASEAN-China Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security Cooperation. Further cooperation in agriculture between ASEAN and China can make full use of opportunities from the full entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ongoing ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations, and the booming digital economy, so as to develop new forms of agricultural business such as agri-tourism, and cultivate and promote agricultural brands with geographical specialties. The ACC is willing to actively promote the cooperation between China, Sichuan Province is surely included, and the AMS in the aspect of GI. 

The GIPE was hosted by Luzhou Municipal Government of Sichuan Province, with key support from the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of China, and related Departments of Sichuan Province.

During the stay in Luzhou City, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun also visited the Luzhou City Planning Exhibition Hall, the South Sichuan Port Area of China (Sichuan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and the Luzhou Port.