Recently, Xue Kan, Secretary of the CPC Yangpu District Committee, met with Pov Somnang, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of ASEAN and President of the ASEAN Economic and Trade Promotion Association, as well as his delegation. The two sides engaged in an in-depth exchange regarding the enhancement of communication and coordination, and the deepening of mutually-beneficial cooperation. Present were Ni Bing, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Yangpu District Committee and Executive Deputy Head of Yangpu District; Wang Tong, Vice President and Secretary-General of the ASEAN Economic and Trade Promotion Association, and others.

Xue warmly welcomed Pov Somnang and his delegation, and introduced Yangpu's economic and social development. He noted that Yangpu is the largest and most populous central urban area in Shanghai. Over the years, it has vigorously pursued an innovation-driven development strategy, transforming from an industrial district into a knowledge-based and innovative district. Now, it is embarking on a new journey of innovative development, and is actively building a "1+2+3+4" innovative modern industrial system with the digital economy at its core. As an extension node district for China-Laos Railway, in recent years, under the influence of the "Belt and Road" initiative and driven by the radiating effect of the China International Import Expo, Yangpu has witnessed increasingly frequent cultural and people-to-people exchanges with ASEAN countries, alongside a steady enhancement in economic and trade cooperation. It is eager to collaborate with ASEAN counterparts, leveraging platforms such as the Laos Economic and Trade Cooperation Expo, to maintain close communication and engage in broad and in-depth cooperation across various domains such as economy and trade, investment, tourism, and education, thereby enhancing connectivity and sharing development opportunities.

Pov Somnang expressed his gratitude for the reception from Yangpu and provided an overview of the ASEAN Economic and Trade Promotion Association and its associated projects. He highlighted that Yangpu boasts rich four centurial legacies, abundant educational resources, a robust momentum in the development of its online new economy, and an industrial structure that complements that of ASEAN, thus laying a natural foundation for cooperation. Looking ahead, the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Economic and Trade Promotion Association will fully leverage their bridging role to foster deeper collaboration between Yangpu and ASEAN countries, and to actively participate in the high-quality co-construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative, thus achieving win-win.

On that day, Pov Somnang and his delegation also visited several key locations in Yangpu, including the Meituan Integrated Command Center, the Dewu Exhibition Hall, the Laos Economic and Trade Cooperation Expo, and Changyang Campus, gaining a comprehensive understanding of Yangpu's online new economy industry development, as well as its external cooperation and exchanges.

At the Meituan Integrated Command Center, Pov Somnang and his delegation attentively listened to an introduction to the company's development process and its various business sectors. They acknowledged the company's efforts in visualizing its online and offline data, which provides a multi-dimensional perspective on the consumption trends of the life service industry across different cities nationwide. Pov Somnang hoped that through Meituan's significant influence, the domestic market for ASEAN agricultural products could be further expanded.

At the Dewu Exhibition Hall, Pov Somnang and his delegation inquired about the company's innovations and endeavors in product testing for domestic consumers and in developing new brand channels. Pov Somnang indicated his proactive stance towards aligning with ASEAN's brand resources to seek cooperation opportunities.

Pov Somnang and his delegation also paid a visit to the Laos Economic and Trade Cooperation Expo. They highly commended the establishment and opening of the hall. Pov Somnang hoped that, as a pivotal hub for "Belt and Road" cooperation, the hall would embrace the mission of "going global" and "bringing in", facilitating the entry of more ASEAN countries' industry resources and brands into the Chinese market, as well as propelling Chinese enterprises to invest in ASEAN, thereby promoting the upgrading of local industries and fostering economic growth.

Furthermore, Pov Somnang and his delegation conducted an in-depth survey of Changyang Campus. They acknowledged the park's initiatives in urban renewal, which have been augmented by the integration of technological innovation, leading to the revitalization of community areas and the realization of integrated development between the park and the community. Pov Somnang expressed his aspiration that, in the future, ASEAN-related projects could be successfully implemented in Yangpu, aiding in the establishment of a new hub for high-standard opening up.