On 25 April 2025, the 1st Joint Executive Board (JEB) Working Group Meeting of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) in 2025 was held in Beijing, co-chaired by Charge d’Affairs and Minister Norfarina Mohd Azmee of the Embassy of Malaysia in China and Counsellor Lei Zhen of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of China. The meeting was attended by representatives from the MFA of China and the Embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS) in China, as well as the persons-in-charge of the ACC divisions.

Norfarina highlighted that this meeting is held at the just conclusion of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent state visit to three ASEAN countries, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia. President Xi's visit underscored China's role not only as a close neighbor, but also a long standing and strategic partner. The visit reaffirmed China’s support for ASEAN Centrality and sent a clear message that China will continue to work closely with ASEAN countries to ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous region for all. The ASEAN-China partnership is one of the most comprehensive and dynamic relationships in the region, and the ACC has played an important role in exploring the potential for a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future. She spoke highly of the role of the ACC as a platform that brings together talents and communities between ASEAN and China, enhancing people-to-people understanding and translating shared visions into actions on both sides. She reaffirmed the strong support from the AMS for the ACC’s future endeavours in enhancing cooperations in cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence and sustainable energy, educational collaboration in STEM, boosting tourism and connectivity between ASEAN and China, which all align with ASEAN’s priorities in strengthening regional partnership. 

Lei Zhen appreciated the contributions of the ACC to the development of ASEAN-China relations through various activities. He emphasised that, China and ASEAN, as the representatives of developing countries and emerging economies, should enhance unity and cooperation and join hands to address the global challenges of rising instability and uncertainty.  China is willing to work with ASEAN to continuously deepen practical cooperation in economic and trade investment, emerging industries and other fields, promote efforts in signing and implementing the upgraded protocol of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 on schedule, implement the RCEP with high quality, safeguard regional economic integration and defend an open, inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. China will work with all parties to continue supporting the ACC in playing its role as a one-stop information and activities centre. It is hoped that the ACC will fully implement the important consensus of both leaders, explore and create new highlights and brands in cooperation, further promote people-to-people exchanges, making new contributions to the building of an even closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

The persons-in-charge of the ACC divisions briefed the Meeting on the progress of its work since the 14th Joint Council Meeting and its plans in the near future, and expressed gratitude to the JEB members for the latter’s recognition and support. The JEB members reaffirmed their full support and collaboration with the ACC and shared their opinions and suggestions on projects in areas including food security, artificial intelligence, digital economy, culture and youth exchanges, internship and scholarship programs, etc. It is hoped that by sticking to the theme of ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges and celebrating the milestones in ASEAN-China relations, the ACC will hold and engage in more exchanges and cooperations to make more substantive contributions to moving forward ASEAN-China relations.