ASEAN-China Center Secretary-General meets PCOO officials

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 7): ASEAN-China Center Secretary-General meets PCOO officials

Former Chinese ambassador and now ASEAN-China Center (ACC) Secretary-General Yang Xiuping met on Tuesday officials of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to explain important role of media to promote relations between the Philippines and China.

"The meeting is very good and very helpful because you know China-ASEAN center is promoting the functional cooperation between China and ASEAN,” Yang said after a meeting with PCOO officials headed by Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag at Casa Roces restaurant near Malacanang Palace.

Yang, who served as ambassador to Lithuania, Maldives, Sri Lanka and ASEAN, said ASEAN-China Center is working together with Southeast Asian countries to strengthen cooperation on trade and investment, education, culture, tourism and media and public relations.

"In the future, we hope that the media people will do come to China to make you know with our Chinese media. We also hope that you actively participate to do the contribution for ASEAN and China relations,” Yang said in media interview.

The ASEAN-China Center official discussed with the PCOO officials about the future programs that will enhance China’s relations with 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN).

"This is a very important year for ASEAN because it marks the 50th anniversary and also very important year for China-ASEAN relations and the Philippines being the chairman of ASEAN," Yang said.

Yang said ASEAN-China Center is planning to send Chinese media people to the Philippines “to have a frequent exchanges of ideas on future cooperation.”

During the meeting, Banaag and other officials of the PCOO attached agencies explained to the ASEAN-China Center official the role of government media in promoting the plans and programs of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Yang has also been informed about the PCOO’s special task to promote public awareness about ASEAN at the grassroots levels by holding caravans in major cities of the countries.

Banaag described the meeting as “very interesting and we’ve learned about the programs of ASEAN-China.”

"ASEAN-China relations are very important specially so that we are also opening our doors to China and we are starting all over good relationships with China," Banaag said.

ASEAN-China Center (ACC) was established in 2011 with tasks to implement various activities, projects and programs in trade and investment, culture, education and tourism for the benefits of two billion people of China and ASEAN countries.

Banaag was accompanied by News and Information Bureau (NIB) Director Virginia Arcilla-Agtay, Philippine News Agency (PNA) Executive Editor Luis Morente, and Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) Director General Bong Aportadera Jr.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=961856