On April 16, 2024, Ambassador Hou Yanqi paid a courtesy call on H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, the newly appointed Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, exchanging views on China-ASEAN relations and cooperation priorities.

Ambassador Hou briefed on the guiding principles set forth at China’s “Two Sessions”, the development achievements of China-ASEAN relations, the progress and the cooperation initiatives for the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Ambassador Hou said that China and ASEAN benefit from each other’s development and have great potential for cooperation. China always gives priority to ASEAN in its neighborhood diplomacy, supports ASEAN centrality, unity and community building, as well as ASEAN Secretariat’s work and capacity building. China is willing to take the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity to enrich exchanges and cooperation in various fields, promoting new progress in the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Deputy Secretary-General Nararya spoke highly of the significant achievements in ASEAN-China relations, and said that he supports the rich and colorful activities under the framework of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, appreciates the cooperation initiatives put forward by the Chinese side, and is willing to work together to promote the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a higher level.