A delegation led by Dr. AKP Mochtan, Deputy Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for Community and Corporate Affairs Department, visited Xiamen, Fujian on April 13.
Zhan Cangzhou, secretary of Xiamen’s politics and law committee, said Xiamen and ASEAN countries have maintained close contacts in all aspects. It also established sister city ties with Surabaya, Indonesia, Penang, Malaysia and Cebu in the Philippines.
Last year, total export-import volume between Xiamen and ASEAN rose to more than 81 billion yuan (about $12.15 billion). As of this March, eight of the 10 ASEAN countries had invested in 914 companies in Xiamen.
What’s more, the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the annual Nanyang Culture Festival have promoted economic and cultural exchanges between two sides, Zhan added.
Mochtan emphasized the significance of communication and exchanges between Xiamen and ASEAN countries, and hoped to take the opportunity to expand bilateral cooperation.
Southeast Asia is where most overseas Chinese from Fujian province reside, and around 100 million people among the 200 million overseas Chinese in ASEAN countries were originally from Fujian.
Currently, ASEAN is the second largest trading partner of Fujian.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
