The 16th ACJCC Meeting Held in Jakarta, Indonesia

On April 10, 2015, the 16th ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee (ACJCC) Meeting was convened at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN, and H.E. Amb. Suvat Chirapant, Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN. Members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, officials of ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), delegates from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Oceanic Administration, and the People's Government of Fujian Province were present. 

The meeting reviewed the progress of China and ASEAN cooperation in 2014, formulated work plans for 2015, and set the orientation and major areas for China-ASEAN Cooperation Fund after discussing its management and utilization. 

Representatives from China and ASEAN member states briefed on their specific political, economic and social development, reviewed progress in their pragmatic cooperation. Ambassador Yang Xiuping pointed out that ASEAN Community was finally formed in 2015 with milestone significance for Asian integration. She emphasized that as ASEAN was a focal area in the Belt and Road Initiative, the Belt and Road construction matched the vision of ASEAN Community in national programs and business projects at bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation mechanisms, advancing infrastructure building and maritime economic growth. 

ASEAN member states applauded China for its years' endeavor in promoting programmatic cooperation, stating that ASEAN-China cooperation was of great importance to the development of ASEAN, economic integration and regional peace and stability. ASEAN member states would like to join hands with China in deepening all-round comprehensive cooperation, setting visions for future development, and pushing forward the China-ASEAN strategic partnership. 

Representatives from the State Oceanic Administration briefed on cooperation it conducted with ASEAN member states, including inter-governmental cooperation agreements signed with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Maldives, the establishment of China-Indonesia Center for Ocean and Climate and the China-Thailand Joint Lab for Climate and Maritime Ecosystem. Officials of the SOA pointed out the Administration valued highly the cooperation with ASEAN member states in environmental protection and disaster prevention and mitigation, etc. The China-ASEAN Center for Maritime Cooperation, proposed by Premier Li Keqiang when attending the Leaders' Meetings on East Asia Cooperation, was founded jointly by the State Oceanic Administration and the Provincial Government of Fujian. The Center, based in Xiamen, was a nation-level cooperation platform, facilitating China-ASEAN cooperation in maritime economy, technology, industries, trade and investment, environmental protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, maritime culture, maritime management, and maritime connectivity, etc. All ASEAN member states are welcome for the application for projects of the Center.