On 21 October 2023, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in collaboration with the Government of Yantai City, co-sponsored the ASEAN-Yantai Meeting on Economic and Trade Cooperation under the Framework of RCEP. H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC attended and addressed the meeting. The Meeting is aimed to help Yantai enterprises better explore the opportunities brought by the full implementation of RCEP and overseas markets in Southeast Asia. More than 100 officials and business representatives from ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Yantai attended the Meeting.

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun stated in his remarks that RCEP’s full implementation has not only helped regional enterprises gain a broader space for development, but also injected new momentum into global trade and investment. ASEAN and China have always been playing vibrant and crucial roles in the RCEP region. The cross-border trade between AMS and China is growing rapidly and the resilience of industrial chains is continuously enhancing. In order to fully utilize the RCEP, enterprises in the region should have an in-depth understanding of RCEP rules and mechanisms, explore new areas of regional cooperation, raise awareness of competition, and open up new courses and broader space for further development.

At the Meeting, Vice Mayor Zhang Zhixin of Yantai City promoted Yantai to the attendees. He introduced Yantai’s investment environment and development blueprint. Counsellors in charge of economy and commerce from the Embassies of Lao PDR and Myanmar promoted their advantages for business and trade and investment policies, and interacted with the Chinese enterprises.

During the stay in Yantai, Secretary General Shi met with Mayor Zheng Deyan of Yantai City, and visited Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research and China’s Offshore Wind Energy Base. The two sides had in-depth exchanges on strengthening cooperation between AMS and Yantai in such fields as marine economy, new energy development and high-tech manufacturing.