On 24 October 2023, H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with the visiting delegation of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to ASEAN at the ACC. H.E. Ambassador Hou Yanqi of China to ASEAN, H.E. Ambassador Natercia Cipriano Coelho da Silva of Timor Leste to ASEAN and Deputy Secretary General Robert Matheus Michael Tene of ASEAN were present.

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun welcomed the visiting delegation and expressed the appreciation to the CPR for its sustained and firm support to the ACC. He briefed the guests on the ACC’s efforts in promoting ASEAN-China cooperation and exchanges and shared the ACC’s latest achievements in 2023, which witnessed various activities conducted and projects delivered in such priority areas as trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and media. Under the new circumstances, the ACC looks forward to the strategic guidance from the CPR and stands ready to work with all stakeholders to keep ASEAN-China relations and cooperation at the front of the times, so as to consistently promote regional development and prosperity, and enrich ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya, Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN, spoke on behalf of the CPR delegation and appreciated the ACC’s remarkable contribution to cementing ASEAN-China partnership and deepening both pragmatic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between both sides. She stressed that, looking ahead in 2024, announced as ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the CPR will work closely with the ACC in implementing consensus between ASEAN and Chinese leaders, through delivering on opportunities provided by the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), rapid growth of digital economy, and booming exchanges on culture, education, tourism, youth and media. The CPR also values the continued efforts by the ACC to keep raising awareness of ASEAN in the Chinese general public, which definitely well serves the long-term development of ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.