On 11 August 2024, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) respectively met with Union Minister Dr. Thet Thet Khine of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar and Minister Neth Pheaktra for Information of Cambodia, who are invited to attend the ASEAN-China Week (ACW) 2024 in Changzhi City of Shanxi Province. Both sides exchanged views on ASEAN-China relations as well as Myanmar-China and Cambodia-China practical cooperation.

Shi Zhongjun expressed his appreciation to both the Governments of Myanmar and Cambodia for their long-term support to the work of the ACC and warmly welcomed the Ministers gracing the ACW 2024. He emphasized that, under the strategic guidance of leaders from ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China, the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership is flourishing with fruitful outcomes. The year 2024 has been designated as the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges (ACYPPE), and the Cambodia-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges. The ACC, by fully leveraging its role as a facilitating platform, has hosted a variety of cultural and people-to-people exchange events in such fields as education, culture, youth, tourism and media, making positive contributions to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and China and cementing public support for ASEAN-China relations. Friends from all walks of life in ASEAN and China gathered in Changzhi for the ACW2024 to renew the profound friendship between both sides, explore more opportunities for cooperation, and offer recommendations for the steady and long-term growth of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The ACC stands ready to strengthen communication and collaboration with the Myanmar Union Ministry for Hotels and Tourism and the Ministry for Information of Cambodia, to carry out more cooperation in relevant fields and implement more projects, to promote the building of an even closer ASEAN-China and Myanmar-China and Cambodia-China community with a shared future.

Thet Thet Khine and Neth Pheaktra sent their warm congratulations on the opening of ACW 2024 and spoke highly of the efforts by the ACC to promote the growth of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership. Thet Thet Khine stated that flagship events organized by the ACC in recent years, such as the ASEAN-China Tourism Investment Seminar and the Belt and Road Connecting ASEAN Events, have played an active role in facilitating practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between AMS including Lancang-Mekong countries and China. Myanmar, with its abundant tourism resources, is keen on attracting more Chinese tourists and investment, and has implemented projects such as Chinese language training workshops and tourist destination projects. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar is willing to strengthen cooperation with the ACC to jointly promote the post-pandemic recovery of tourism industries, and tourism-related personnel exchanges between Myanmar and China and the region at large, to inject impetus into the development and prosperity of both sides.

Neth Pheaktra stressed that the friendship between Cambodia and China has grown with greater depth, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Pentagonal Strategy enjoy smooth and sound alignment with each other, benefiting Cambodia’s national development. Under the framework of the 2024 Cambodia-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges, both sides have staged colorful and meaningful activities. The Ministry of Information of Cambodia has actively participated in the aforesaid activities, and carried out various forms of cooperation with the Chinese counterparts, local governments and media. The people from both sides, especially the Cambodian people, have been deeply impressed by the “iron-clad friendship” and the achievements of the Belt and Road cooperation between both countries. The Ministry of Information of Cambodia is willing to explore more opportunities in media cooperation with the ACC, jointly oppose fake news and misinformation, present Cambodia-China cooperation as a model to showcase the remarkable achievements of ASEAN-China mutually beneficial cooperation under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative to the region and the world at large, so as to tighten people-to-people bonds and work together to nurture a positive environment of public opinion for the sustained and sound growth of ASEAN-China relations.