On 14 November 2023, H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was invited to attend and address the opening ceremony of the 9th United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific Congress (UCLG ASPAC) in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province. Under the theme “Advancing balanced economic development in the Asia-Pacific”, the Congress serves as a platform for dialogue, exchange and cooperation. The event began with welcoming speeches by Party Secretary Wang Jian of CPC Yiwu Municipal Committee and UCLG ASPAC President Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha, followed by remarks from Secretary General Shi Zhongjun and other invited dignitaries including Chairman Ban Ki-Moon of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), and Minister Tri Rismaharini of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

In his remarks, Secretary General Shi highlighted Zhejiang Province, particularly Yiwu, has undergone remarkable growth and transformation, symbolizing China’s economic growth, openness, innovation, inclusiveness, cooperation, and win-win mentality. Amid numerous changes and challenges, the Asia-Pacific economy has shown resilience and vitality, while ASEAN-China relations have reached new peaks. Both sides have witnessed deepened political mutual trust, upgraded strategic partnership, enriched economic integration, expanded practical cooperation, and consolidated public support, all of which will play crucial roles in global recovery in the post-pandemic era.

Secretary General Shi also underlined some recommendations on approaches for promoting cooperation in the future course, among which are building an open and inclusive system of cooperation that values multilateralism and regional architecture, promotes economic integration, and injects vitality into the regional economy as well as securing a high-standard regional economic integration by aligning with RCEP and CAFTA 3.0, translating institutional dividends into reality, expanding import and export of competitive products, stable production and supply chain. He underscored exploring new domains of practical cooperation by encouraging scientific and technological innovations, developing new industries, and seizing opportunities in emerging markets while enhancing amity and trust among the peoples of ASEAN and China through concrete cooperation in culture, education, tourism, youth, academia, and media during the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges in 2024.

During his trip to Yiwu, Secretary General Shi also attended the opening ceremony of 2023 China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair, and the 4th Zhejiang International Friendship Cities Exchange Exhibition.