From 26 to 30 June 2026, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) invited Ambassadors from the ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China on a trip to the Xizang Autonomous Region. Ambassador Zhang Lizhong of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune of the Lao PDR, Ambassador Dato’ Norman Muhamad of Malaysia, Ambassador Zaw Win Myint of Myanmar, Ambassador Jaime A. FlorCruz of the Philippines, Ambassador Chatchai Viriyavejakul of Thailand, Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh of Viet Nam with other senior diplomats from AMS embassies in China attended the visit.

During their stay in Xizang, the delegation was received by H.E. Zhao Peng, Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region. He briefed the delegation on Xizang’s achievements in seven major areas of development, as well as the national one on one pairing assistance for the region. He emphasized that ASEAN remains a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy and a key region for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The Xizang Autonomous Region has consistently aligned its work with China’s diplomatic priorities. Building on its unique geographical position as the birthplace of the Lancang-Mekong River, Xizang has actively promoted high-level exchanges, people-to-people ties, and economic and trade cooperation with AMS. Looking ahead, he expressed the hope to deepen cooperation with AMS in agriculture and animal husbandry, clean energy, green mineral resources, sister-city partnerships, culture and tourism, as well as media exchanges. He also invited ASEAN countries to participate in flagship events such as the China Xizang Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation and the China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo, so as to contribute to a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future. 

Ambassador Zhang said that Xizang’s leapfrog growth, particularly its coordinated development in ecological conservation, improving people’s well-being, cultural preservation, and industrial innovation, resonates strongly with ASEAN countries’ shared aspirations in sustainable development, green transition, and rural poverty alleviation.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations and the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). As ASEAN-China relations continue to deepen, he expressed confidence that both sides will join hands to explore new opportunities and deliver more concrete results in high-level exchanges, sub-national cooperation, industrial synergy, mutual learning among civilizations, and closer people-to-people ties.

The AMS delegates expressed deep admiration to Xizang’s outstanding progress under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and through the hard work of the Chinese people. They spoke highly of Xizang’s achievements in ethnic unity, harmony between humanity and nature, rural poverty alleviation and revitalization, and green development, noting that these achievements are a vivid reflection of PresidentXi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization.

They also underscored the strong potential for cooperation between ASEAN countries and Xizang in tourism, agriculture, fisheries, sister-city ties and ecological conservation. They expressed their readiness to further explore new opportunities for cooperation, and to advance ASEAN-China CSP at the sub-national level in a more practical and result-oriented manner.

During their trip, the delegation called on local families in Gala Village for face-to-face exchanges, made field visits to Xizang’s local industries, including fisheries, Tibetan medicine, and yak-bone porcelain, and traveled on the Sichuan-Xizang Railway, experiencing the remarkable transformation across the plateau. They also explored the Yani Wetland and Basum Tso Lake and toured UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. Immersing themselves in the plateau’s magnificent scenery, the delegation witnessed firsthand Xizang’s achievements in infrastructure development, ecological conservation, green development, cultural preservation, and ethnic and religious affairs.