From April 19 to 20, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Shi Zhongjun led a delegation to Jiangsu University (JSU) to attend the program “ACC Secretary General on Campus” and the symposium on “Three Global Initiatives and the Building of an Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future” and the opening ceremony of the 14th International Culture Festival of JSU.

In the afternoon of April 19, the program “ACC Secretary General on Campus” was held at JSU. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun, Secretary of the CPC JSU Committee Prof. Li Hongbo, Director of Institute for Global Development and Security of JSU Xu Bu, Director of General Affairs and Coordination Division of the ACC Sun Yi, Deputy Director of the Information and Public Relations Division of the ACC Wang Yan, official of IPRD of the ACC Zhang Shangwu, and relevant leaders from International Office, Overseas Education College of JSU were present. The event, which attracted over 200 students and faculty members from China and ASEAN Member States, was chaired by Vice President of JSU Prof. Cai Yingfeng.

In his speech, Secretary Li Hongbo introduced JSU and its history, especially the strategy of internationalization development, which has yielded remarkable achievements in cultivating overseas students from ASEAN Member States and in the exchanges and cooperation in the areas of culture, education, science and technology with governments, universities and non-governmental organizations of ASEAN.

He highlighted that further efforts will be made by JSU to implement the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important address on the development of ASEAN-China relations. JSU will contribute to deepening the exchanges and strategic cooperation between China and ASEAN by leveraging the advantage of itself and ACC. Secretary Li Hongbo also called for students from China and ASEAN to take the opportunity of this event to enhance mutual understanding, develop friendship and achieve mutual success amid mutual learning.

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun delivered a lecture on ASEAN-China relations titled “Invigorating ASEAN-China Relations with Vitality, Wisdom and Responsibility”. He introduced the history of ASEAN’s development, and summarized the solid foundation of the ASEAN-China relations with four keywords, “friendship”, “commitment”, “hope” and “collaboration”. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun stressed that, as the sole inter-governmental organization between China and ASEAN, ACC has stayed committed to promoting the friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between ASEAN and China in the areas of trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, and information and media. Noting that youth not only serves as the pillar of the future development of China and ASEAN, but also as a bridge and pioneer to connect and deepen the friendly relations between both sides, he encouraged Chinese and international students to promote regional integration with openness and inclusiveness, and make joint efforts to build a better home for peoples in China and ASEAN.

During the event, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun, Secretary Li Hongbo and Xu Bu jointly unveiled the plate of Jiangsu University Research Center for ASEAN-China Relationship.

Before the event, Secretary Li Hongbo held talks with Secretary General Shi Zhongjun. Vice President Cai Yingfeng, Xu Bu, relevant staff members of the ACC, International Office of JSU, Overseas Education College of JSU attended the event.