On 1 November 2024, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was invited to attend and address the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations. Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn of ASEAN, Ambassador Hou Yanqi of China to ASEAN, Permanent Representative Sarah Al Bakri Devadason of Malaysia to ASEAN, and Founder and Chairman Dr. Dino Patti Djalal of Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) also addressed the audience. 

Shi Zhongjun stated that ASEAN-China relations have entered a fresh phase of building a closer community with a shared future. Amid the growing uncertainties in global landscape, ASEAN and China should enhance converging interests through enhanced connectivity to inject more stability and energy into regional and global developments. Both sides should promote ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges and cooperation from a strategic perspective, materialize more activities featuring face-to-face exchanges in such fields as culture, tourism, education, youth and think tanks, and leverage the power of emerging technologies and mass media, so as to promote the prompt, efficient and productive communication between ASEAN and China. The ACC stays committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to diversify practical cooperation, deepen people-to-people exchanges, and contribute to the growth of ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the building of a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn hailed the ASEAN-China relations which have reaped great achievements and been enjoying favorable momentum of growth, and commends ASEAN-China CSP as one of the most influential, dynamic and productive partnerships in the region. He also stressed the importance of bridging connectivity through “hardware” infrastructure and bonding connectivity through hearts and minds.

Ambassador Hou Yanqi said that a series of major reform initiatives launched by China and the important consensus reached between the leaders of both China and ASEAN countries have opened up new prospects for ASEAN-China cooperation and their common pursuit of regional development. Both sides are encouraged to advance the construction of high-level and inclusive connectivity, so as to further promote ASEAN-China CSP. 

The participants all agreed that ASEAN should continue to strengthen strategic alignment between the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), enhance multifaceted connectivity between ASEAN and China's maritime, terrestrial and aerial networks, strengthen supply and industrial chains, foster new growth points of cooperation in such areas as digital economy and emerging technologies, as well as reinforce the long-standing friendship between ASEAN and China in the purpose of achieving mutual benefits and win-win results.

The Jakarta Forum was co-hosted by the Chinese Mission to ASEAN and the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN, and organized by FPCI, under the theme of “Bridging and Bonding by Connectivity”. The invited dignitaries and participants had in-depth exchange of views on such topics as “responsibilities and contributions of enterprises on boosting ASEAN-China connectivity” and “achievements and future cooperation on strengthening ASEAN-China people-to-people bonds”, so as to renew commitment in promoting connectivity in the region. Over 150 government officials and representatives of international organizations, think tanks, enterprises, social organizations from both ASEAN and China were present.