On 31 October 2024, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with H.E. Sidharto R. Suryodipuro, Director General for ASEAN Cooperation and SOM Leader for ASEAN Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Indonesia in Jakarta. 

Shi Zhongjun stated that, as an inter-governmental organization co-founded by 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China, the ACC stays committed to promoting friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between ASEAN and China in various fields including trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, information and media, leveraging its bridging role in raising public awareness of ASEAN Community building and ASEAN-China relations in China, and deepening economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between both sides. Under the framework of 2024-2025 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges (ACYPPE), the ACC will continue to carry out colorful activities to bring the peoples closer through enhancing friendship and deepening cooperation. Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, as well as the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Asian African Conference held in Bandung. The ACC will actively carry out commemorative activities, collaborating with Indonesia to expand friendship and cooperation between Indonesia and China, especially in the fields of investment and emerging economy, and aligning with the priorities of Indonesia’s new administration, so as to contribute more to the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future of regional and global influence.

Suryodipuro spoke highly of the ACC’s efforts in strengthening practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and China in various fields. He stressed that both Indonesia and China are regional powers, enjoying a strong momentum of growth in bilateral relations, enhanced connectivity and amiable exchanges between the peoples, and promising prospects for strategic cooperation. He looked forward to the ACC playing a more crucial role in promoting ASEAN-China relations, especially in the cooperation in such fields as trade and investment, culture and tourism, Chinese language training, vocational education and media, and implementing more concrete flagship projects. The MFA of Indonesia will spare no effort in supporting the ACC in its future endeavors.