Dear friends,

Welcome to the ASEAN-China Centre website.

ASEAN and China are good neighbours, good friends and good partners, linked by mountains and rivers. Ever since the launch of the ASEAN-China dialogue relations in 1991, the two sides have deepened political mutual trust, strengthened people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and reaped rich fruits in practical cooperation. Both sides are actively synergizing the high quality Belt and Road cooperation with ASEAN regional and national development strategies, especially the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. Both sides have made joint efforts to realize the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 at an early date. Standing at a new starting point with the establishment of ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, the two sides will further contribute to the building of a “peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable” home, and inject even more positive energy to the regional peace and development.

The establishment and development of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) reflects the strategic vision of leaders from both sides and bears earnest expectations for deeper cooperation and exchanges between 10 ASEAN Member States and China. This year marks the first year after the establishment of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership. I am honoured and privileged to take up the position as Secretary-General of ACC at this moment.

With the support from all sectors, ACC will continue to spare no efforts in further promoting exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China in the areas of trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, and information and media，so as to make new contributions to an even closer ASEAN-China relationship.

ASEAN and China share a deep friendship and a future together. I hope that our website would serve as a window for you to learn more about ASEAN-China relations and to get familiar with ACC. Thank you again for visiting us. Please also follow our Wechat and Weibo account. We welcome and value your comments and suggestions.

 

Shi Zhongjun

Secretary-General

ASEAN-China Centre

Mr. Shi Zhongjun, born in January 1966. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws.

1990-1993 Staff member, then Attaché, Department of International Organisations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the People’s Republic of China

1993-1995 Attaché, then Third Secretary, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other International Organisations in Switzerland

1995-1997 Third Secretary, Department of International Organisations and Conferences, MFA

1997-2004 Third Secretary, Deputy Division Director, then Division Director, Department of Arms Control, MFA

2004-2008 Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Vienna, Austria

2008-2011 Counsellor, the General Office, MFA

2011-2014 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Seychelles

2015-2016 Deputy Director-General, Department of International Organisations and Conferences, MFA

2016-2018 Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations in Vienna, Permanent Representative to United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Permanent Representative to International Atomic Energy Agency

2018-2022 Director-General, Department for Diplomatic Missions Abroad, MFA

2022- Secretary-General, the ASEAN-China Centre

Married with a daughter

Logo of ASEAN-China Centre is a circular emblem composed of patterns of the National Flag of China and the ASEAN Flag in the middle with a border decorated with sheaves of rice as well as the English and Chinese characters of ASEAN-China Centre. Red and yellow in large area in the logo symbolize auspiciousness and happiness, and the blue outer circle represents harmony and unity.

ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) is an inter-governmental organization co-founded by 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China. ACC was officially launched at the Commemorative Summit marking the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations on 18 November 2011. ACC Secretariat is located in Beijing. The current Secretary-General is H.E. Mr. Shi Zhongjun.

The establishment of ACC reflects the fruitful development of ASEAN-China relations and the strategic vision of the leaders of both sides. As a one-stop information and activities centre, ACC is committed to promoting friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between ASEAN and China in various fields including trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, and information and media.

Standing on a new starting point, ASEAN-China relations are embracing new opportunities and broad prospects. ACC will join hands with all parties to make greater contribution to the all-round and in-depth development of ASEAN-China strategic partnership.

ACC Secretariat consists of four divisions, including General Affairs and Coordination Division, Trade and Investment Division, Education, Culture and Tourism Division, and Information and Public Relations Division.

1. General Affairs and Coordination Division

Liaise with members of the Joint Council and Joint Executive Board of ACC, government agencies, organizations and institutions of AMS and China, liaise with international organizations including the ASEAN-Japan Centre and the ASEAN-Korea Centre;

Organize large-scale activities including receptions, symposiums, etc.;

Draft annual work programmes, budgets and annual reports;

Draft, supervise and implement the rules and regulations on ACC s work procedures, finance and staff;

Maintain ACC’s daily operation, and take care of administrative, human resource and financial affairs.

2. Trade and Investment Division

Host ASEAN-China cooperation forums to promote regional common development goals including innovation-driven development, digital economic transition, sustainable development and blue economy;

Host ASEAN-China trade and investment promotion seminars, and support activities including exhibitions, forums, seminars and workshops in local provinces and cities of China to promote ASEAN-China business environment；

Organize trade and investment promotion tours to AMS for Chinese enterprises to explore more business opportunities by conducting face-to-face exchanges with local governments and Chinese diplomatic missions in AMS, business matching and field visits to local industrial parks；

Invite economic and commercial officials of ASEAN diplomatic missions in China and ASEAN entrepreneurs to visit Chinese high-tech enterprises and industrial parks, support and participate in influential domestic and regional activities to promote ASEAN-China exchanges and cooperation in important industrial fields.

3. Education, Culture and Tourism Division

Host and support various activities to promote education cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and China, including but not limited to: building cooperation platforms, promoting two-way flow of students and scholars, strengthening comprehensive collaboration between education institutions at all levels, deepening youth and think tank exchanges, and enhancing language exchanges, etc.;

Host and support various cultural activities, building a platform for enhancing exchanges, mutual learning and practical cooperation between ASEAN and China in the field of culture, promoting intergrowth and co-prosperity among cultures of both sides；

Strengthen tourism exchanges and practical cooperation between ASEAN and China in the fields of market development and destination promotion through a series of flagship projects and activities, such as information sharing, capacity building, tour guide training, travel routes familiarization and product branding.

4. Information and Public Relations Division

Organize PR activities such as public lectures, exhibitions and interviews, presenting ASEAN-China relations and ACC to all walks of life from ASEAN and China and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two sides;

Liaise with media from both ASEAN and China, host and support international conferences, forums and capacity building activities related with information and media cooperation, promoting mutual visits and deepening exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and Chinese media;

Maintain and operate ACC s website, Weibo and Wechat accounts, publish ASEAN & China in Figures and ACC Newsletter, providing information services for ASEAN-China cooperation.

• •  ACC as Information Centre（Updated in January 2021）
• •  ACC as Activities Centre
• •  ACC’s Achievements in a Decade of Milestones

• •   2018 Tourism Facts & Figures in China and between ASEAN & China
• •   Key Indicators on ASEAN-China Relations (2018): Trade
• •   ASEAN-China Economic & Trade Cooperation in 2018

(Updated as of August 2021)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ESTABLISHMENT

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Brunei Darussalam then joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.

AIMS AND PURPOSES

As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:

1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;

2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;

3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;

4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;

5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;

6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and

7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

In their relations with one another, the ASEAN Member States have adopted the following fundamental principles, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976:

1. Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;

2. The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;

3. Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;

4. Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;

5. Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and

6. Effective cooperation among themselves.

ASEAN COMMUNITY

The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders on the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.

At the 9th ASEAN Summit in 2003, the ASEAN Leaders resolved that an ASEAN Community shall be established.

At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the Leaders affirmed their strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and signed the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). Each pillar has its own Blueprint, and, together with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Strategic Framework and IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), they form the Roadmap for and ASEAN Community 2009-2015.

At the 25th ASEAN Summit in November 2014, the Leaders adopted Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on the ASEAN Community's Post-2015 Vision, endorsing the consolidated central elements annexed to the Declaration as a basis to develop the Post-2015 Vision of the ASEAN Community. The ASEAN Coordinating Council is tasked to oversee the overall process of developing the Post-2015 Vision and the attendant documents of the three community pillars of 2016-2025 to be submitted together to the 27th ASEAN Summit.

Leaders at the 26th ASEAN Summit in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur and northwestern resort island of Langkawi reaffirmed to make their utmost for the establishment of the ASEAN Community that is politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible by the year-end of 2015 and agreed to tackle non-tariff barriers in order to further boost free movement of goods and services.

At the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together, which charts the path for ASEAN Community building over the next 10 years, was endorsed. The document is a forward-looking roadmap that articulates ASEAN goals and aspirations to realize further consolidation, integration and stronger cohesiveness as a community.

At its 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits held in Vientiane of Laos in 2016, the Leaders adopted the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan III and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, an integral part of the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together, in a bid to advance the ASEAN community building process.

Leaders at the 30th ASEAN Summit in Manila reaffirmed their commitment that the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will be implemented in a mutually-reinforcing manner to build a truly inclusive and people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN Community.

At the 31st ASEAN Summit, Leaders signed the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers that strengthens the social protection, access to justice, and ensures humane and fair treatment of the growing numbers of migrant workers in the region. They believed the document will help establish a framework for cooperation on migrant workers in the region and contribute to the ASEAN community building process.

ASEAN CHARTER

The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by providing legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN norms, rules and values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents accountability and compliance.

The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. A gathering of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers was held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to mark this very historic occasion for ASEAN.

With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN will henceforth operate under a new legal framework and establish a number of new organs to boost its community-building process.

In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN Member States.

ASEAN CHAIR

According to Article 31 of the ASEAN Charter, the Chairmanship of ASEAN shall rotate annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States. A Member State assuming the Chairmanship shall chair the ASEAN Summit and related summits, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the three ASEAN Community Councils, relevant ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and senior officials, and the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

Viet Nam is the Chair of ASEAN for 2020 and the theme of its ASEAN Chairmanship is "Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN".

Brunei Darussalam is the Chair of ASEAN for 2021 and the theme of its ASEAN Chairmanship is "We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper".

ASEAN MOTTO

The motto of ASEAN is "One Vision, One Identity, One Community".

ASEAN DAY

8th August is observed as ASEAN Day.

ASEAN SECRETARIAT

ASEAN Secretary-General (2018-2022): H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi

Headquarters: Jakarta

Basic Function: To provide for greater efficiency in the coordination of ASEAN organs and for more effective implementation of ASEAN projects and activities

Mission: To initiate, facilitate and coordinate ASEAN stakeholder collaboration in realizing the purposes and principles of ASEAN as reflected in the ASEAN Charter.

(Source: ASEAN Secretariat and relevant official documents)

ASEAN-10

Country	Land Area (Thousands square km)	Population (Thousands)	Major Language (S)	Capital City	Currency	GDP，current prices (USD Billion)
Brunei	5.3	0.4	Malay, English	Bandar Seri Begawan	Brunei Dollar	12.02
Cambodia	176.5	16.7	Khmer	Phnom Penh	Riel	25.95
Indonesia	1,811.6	273.5	Indonesian	Jakarta	Rupiah	1,060.00
Lao PDR	230.8	7.3	Lao	Vientiane	Kip	19.08
Malaysia	328.6	32.4	Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil	Kuala Lumpur	Ringgit	338.28
Myanmar	653.1	54.4	Myanmar	Nay Pyi Taw	Kyat	81.26
Philippines	298.2	109.6	Filipino,English, Spanish	Manila	Peso	362.24
Singapore	0.7	5.7	English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil	Singapore	Singapore Dollar	339.98
Thailand	510.9	69.8	Thai	Bangkok	Baht	501.89
Viet Nam	310.1	97.3	Vietnamese	Ha Noi	Dong	340.82

(Source: Land Area - from World Bank World Development Indicators Database in 2018; Population - from World Bank World Development Indicators Database in 2020; Major Language(s), Capital City and Currency - from ASEAN Secretariat; GDP - from IMF World Economic Outlook, April 2021)