On 7 July 2016, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Mr. Huo Zhaocheng, Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Lanzhou Municipal Government, and exchanged views on strengthening functional cooperation between Lanzhou and ASEAN countries.
Secretary-General Yang Xiuping introduced the mandate and work of ACC, and thanked the contribution of Lanzhou on promoting ASEAN-China exchanges and cooperation. She noted that ACC was devoted to implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of ASEAN countries and China, to actively promoting functional cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and other areas, and made every effort to facilitate exchanges and cooperation among local provinces and cities as well as to promote friendly contact among peoples. The year 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between ASEAN and China. ACC had taken this opportunity to organize a series of rich activities. ACC would enhance its communication with Lanzhou and join hands to contribute to the comprehensive development of ASEAN-China relations through practical cooperation and exchanges.
Director Huo Zhaocheng briefed on the exchanges and cooperation of Lanzhou with foreign countries. He said that Lanzhou, the hub of transportation and communication of Northwest China and the important strategic point of Eurasia Land Bridge, was working hard to build itself into a metropolis in Northwest China. ASEAN companies were welcomed to invest and develop in Lanzhou. Lanzhou had a strong catering industry and fast-growing halal food processing industry. Gelatin and airline food produced by enterprises of Lanzhou were welcomed in China and overseas and had bright future for development. ASEAN countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, had competitive advantages in halal food R&D, processing, certification and marketing. Lanzhou would like to fully utilize the platform of ACC to boost mutual beneficial cooperation with ASEAN countries and achieve common development.