On 27 November 2023, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in collaboration with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Connecting ASEAN Events in Vientiane to take stock of remarkable achievements and look forward to promising prospects of aligning the BRI with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025). 

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith of Laos, Vice Chairperson Shen Yueyue of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Union Minister Dr. Thet Thet Khine of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, and the ACC Secretary General Shi Zhongjun attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Deputy Secretary-General Satvinder Singh of ASEAN Economic Community sent a video message on behalf of Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn of ASEAN. More than 350 dignitaries and participants were present.

The opening ceremony was followed by the Main Forum titled “A Decade of ASEAN-China Connectivity”, where the guest speakers shared their insights on various areas such as infrastructure upgrading, green development, energy transformation, digital economy, smart technologies, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges, so as to consistently enrich and expand ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.