On 21 August 2019, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC) jointly hosted the “2019 ASEAN-China Fair” in celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN.
Mr. Liang Jianjun, Counselor of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Ms. Zhang Qian, Executive Vice President of Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Chen Li, Director-General of Foreign Affairs Office of Guizhou Province, Mr. Cao Ru, Director-General of Foreign Affairs Office of Harbin City, Mr. Zhu Keqian, Deputy Party Secretary of Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Ms. Chen Aimin, Director-General of International Department of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Mr. Dang Minh Khoi, Ambassador of Viet Nam to China, Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, Ambassador -Designate of Malaysia to China, diplomats from ASEAN Member States’ Embassies, representatives of related ministries, universities, organisations, companies and media from both ASEAN and China, around 200 guests in total attended this event. Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC attended the event and delivered welcome remarks.
Secretary-General Chen Dehai said in his remarks that, since the establishment of strategic partnership between ASEAN and China 16 years ago, ASEAN-China relations have become one that stands out as the most vibrant pair with the most substantial cooperation among ASEAN’s many dialogue partnerships. People-to-people exchanges is one of the important pillars of ASEAN-China relations. By hosting the “2019 ASEAN-China Fair”, ACC hoped to provide a platform for lively interactions among friends from all walks of life who are committed to ASEAN-China friendship, so as to make new contributions to further advancing ASEAN-China strategic partnership.
BPAFFC Executive Vice President Ms. Zhang Qian said in her remarks that China and ASEAN are friendly neighbours bonded by mountains and rivers, who are also important dialogue and strategic partners. Particularly in the context of BRI cooperation with the goal of building a community of shared future for mankind, cooperation between China and ASEAN in various fields is booming. BPAFFC is willing to conduct more in-depth exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN countries.
Counsellor Liang Jianjun said in his remarks that people-to-people exchanges, as the third pillar of ASEAN-China relations, plays an important role in underpinning our stable strategic partnership that is on the growth. In the occasion of this year being the ASEAN Cultural Year and ASEAN-China Year of Media Exchanges, it is the right time for us to further deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Department of Asian Affairs of MFA of China will continue to support organisations like ASEAN-China Centre and Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to carry out diversified activities with ASEAN Member States in culture, education, media and other fields.
The ASEAN-China Fair demonstrated the colourful cultures and traditional cuisine from ASEAN countries and China, including singing and dancing performance from ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam, Diabolo performance, Chinese folk musical instrument performance, intangible cultural heritage display such as Straw Artworks, Royal Circular Fan and Sugar Painting from Beijing, and Kam Grand Choirs, Lusheng Song, Handkerchief Dancing from Guizhou province and Heilongjiang province.
In a delightful atmosphere, the guests experienced the unique charm of ASEAN and China cultures and discussed the broad prospects for ASEAN-China friendly exchanges and cooperation.
