On August 8, 2022, Prof. Tao Yitao, attended the 55th anniversary reception of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), hosted by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Guangzhou, the ASEAN rotating presidency in 2022. Prof. Tao is director of China Center for Speical Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR) and president of the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRI). The consul generals of ASEAN countries and partner countries in Guangzhou attended the reception. Accompanying Prof. Tao was Prof. Li Fan, Deputy Director of CCSEZR.
Qian Hongjie, Deputy Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee (Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province), said in her speech that since the establishment of the consulates general of ASEAN countries in Guangzhou, they have done a lot of fruitful work to promote the friendly exchanges and in-depth cooperation between Guangdong Province and ASEAN in various fields. Both sides continuously strengthen connectivity, and conduct economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges so as to promote solid cooperation in all fields.
During the reception, Prof. Tao Yitao exchanged views on cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Phin Vicheawadhana, the Consul General of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Guangzhou, Vu Viet Anh, the Consul General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Guangzhou, and Li Sande, Deputy Consul General of the Russian Federation in Guangzhou.
Group photo at the reception
A group photo of Prof. Tao and Phin Vicheawadhana, the Consul General of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Guangzhou, the ASEAN rotating presidency
A group photo of Prof. Tao and Li Sande, Deputy Consul General of the Russian Federation in Guangzhou
After the reception, Prof. Tao was invited to visit the Consulate General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Guangzhou. Prof. Tao and Consul General Vu Viet Anh conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on a series of issues such as the shareholding system reform of Vietnam's state-owned enterprises, trade exchanges between Vietnam and China, and Vietnam's preferential policies for foreign investments.
Group photo of Prof. Tao and Prof. Li Fan with Vu Viet Anh and Nguyen Thanh Li
[About ASEAN]
"ASEAN" is the abbreviation of "Association of Southeast Asian Nations". From August 7 to 8, 1967, the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia held a meeting in Bangkok and issued the Bangkok Declaration, officially announcing the establishment of ASEAN. The Declaration on the Establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, issued on August 8, 1967, determined that the aims and purposes of ASEAN are: to work together to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region in a spirit of equality and cooperation; promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter; promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields; collaborate more effectively to encourage further growth in the agriculture and industry, and trade sectors. This includes improving transportation and communications facilities and conducting studies on international commodity trade with the overarching goal of raising the living standards of ASEAN peoples; promote Southeast Asian studies; maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves. ASEAN has ten member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
