On 21 April 2025, Ambassador Shi Zhongjun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), attended the 26th Meeting of ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee (ACJCC) in Jakarta to introduce the ACC’s work and plan to the Committee. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Sarah Devadason of Malaysia to ASEAN, and Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi to ASEAN, with the participation of Permanent Representatives and delegates of ASEAN Member States (AMS) as well as Ambassaor of Timor-Leste to ASEAN. 

Shi Zhongjun briefed on the ACC’s activities since the last Joint Council Meeting in December 2024 and outlined the ACC's 2025 work plan and areas of focus. He noted that in recent years, with the deepening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between ASEAN and China, the programmes and activities of the ACC are expanding in fast pace. In 2024, the ACC has organized, co-organized and participated in more than 200 events. So far in 2025, the ACC has successfully organized a number of major events, including the High-Level Think Tank Forum on ASEAN-China Relations, visits by ASEAN diplomats to the Tianjin Binhai High-Tech Industrial Development Area, and a themed short video of “My Story of China” exhibition of ASEAN students in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, which have deepened mutual understanding, practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and China.

Shi emphasized that against the backdrop of turbulent international situation, strengthening ASEAN-China unity and cooperation is crucial for regional development and prosperity. In 2025, the ACC will keep focus on implementing the consensus reached by leaders of both sides. Gearing towards building a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future, the ACC will continue to promote the ASEAN-China CSP, enhance its role as a one-stop information hub, deepen cooperation in smart agriculture, blue economy, industrial and supply chain, enrich people-to-people exchanges and carry out “small yet smart” projects that benefit ASEAN peoples.  

The Permanent Representatives of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam responded with great appreciation that the scale and impact of activities carried out in recent years by the ACC are truly encouraging and productive. The wide area of work without losing focus and the increasing engagement with Chinese localities as well as AMS manifest in full the dedication of the Centre to the implementation of the consensus reached by ASEAN and Chinese leaders. In addition to the traditional six key areas of cooperation, they believe that the plans and activities in agriculture, green development, blue economy as well as think tanks dialogue, youth, and business connectivity are remarkably relevant. Facing the complex international situation, they echoed their strong support to fully utilize the ACC’s role as a platform to address challenges in joint hands to foster regional growth and prosperity and advance the CSP of ASEAN and China.