Jakarta, March 16 (AseanAll) — On 16 March 2026, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) led the ACC team to Jakarta, Indonesia to have working consultations and exchanges with the ASEAN Secretariat at the ASEAN Headquarters.
On behalf of Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, Satvinder Singh met with SG Shi and the team. The two sides had in-depth discussions on advancing the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and deepening practical cooperation in priority areas.
Shi Zhongjun noted that amid global volatility, the overall stability and rapid growth of Asia cannot be achieved without the solidarity and cooperation between China and regional countries. He highlighted that China’s 15th Five-Year Plan focuses on innovation-driven development, high-standard opening up, and high-quality growth, while the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 emphasizes regional integration, innovation, and sustainable development. The development goals of both sides are highly set in the same direction. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-China CSP, and the two sides are advancing the implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0. As an important platform for implementing the consensus of leaders and aligning development strategies of ASEAN and China, the ACC will, through concrete projects such as the ASEAN-China Week, the ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum, the establishment of the ASEAN-China Innovation Centre, and the promotion of sustainable tourism, continue to enhance mutual understanding and foster cooperation in the digital economy, investment and trade, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, injecting new impetus into the building of a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.
Singh welcomed Shi Zhongjun and the ACC delegation for the working exchange and spoke highly of the ACC’s unique contributions to the development of the ASEAN-China CSP. He noted that the current global political and economic landscape is undergoing profound adjustments, with conflicts in the Middle East posing unforeseen challenges to the world economy and energy supply. Against this backdrop, deepening ASEAN-China economic integration, enhancing industrial chain resilience, and promoting innovation-driven development are of great practical significance.
Singh affirmed that the ACC’s future work priorities are highly aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision. The ASEAN Secretariat stands ready to further strengthen coordination with the ACC. ASEAN looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in such areas as artificial intelligence, digital economy, space technology, green energy, and tourism promotion, to jointly advancing the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the early entry into force and harvest of the ACFTA 3.0, so as to enhance regional economic resilience, competitiveness, and the well-being of the people.
