ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF) Promotion and ASEAN Project Proposal Development Training

Bangkok, 3 July 2026 - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand, in collaboration with the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF) Management Team (AMT), the Permanent Mission of Thailand to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), hosted the ACCF Promotion and ASEAN Project Proposal Development Training for Thailand Government Officials and Agencies from 1-3 July 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was conducted to promote ACCF, as well as to provide training in developing ASEAN cooperation project proposals along with their rules and procedures.

Mrs. Chatvadee Chindawongse, Deputy Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand delivered her opening remarks in person and welcomed participants from various government ministries and agencies, AMT and ASEC. She expressed her appreciation to the ACCF Management Team and the Mission of the People's Republic of China to ASEAN for working closely with Thailand to organize the training programme. She highlighted that ASEAN-China cooperation has become one of ASEAN's most dynamic and substantive partnerships, with the ACCF serving as an important mechanism to support impactful projects and activities that contribute directly to ASEAN Community-building.

She further emphasised that the training was timely as ASEAN and China begin implementing the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Plan of Action 2026-2030, alongside the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. She emphasised that the workshop would help participants better understand ASEAN cooperation project procedures and ACCF opportunities, while strengthening Thailand's capacity to develop quality regional proposals. She encouraged participants to actively engage in the training and use the knowledge gained to transform their project ideas into practical initiatives that support ASEAN Community-building and ASEAN-China cooperation.

Counsellor Ma Xiaohui of the Mission of the People's Republic of China to ASEAN, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Permanent Mission of Thailand to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat for their support for the event. He highlighted that China and ASEAN are close neighbours, trusted friends, and important partners, with cooperation that has continued to deepen over the past 35 years since the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations in 1991. He noted that China-ASEAN relations have grown into one of ASEAN's most dynamic and substantive partnerships, supported by strong political trust, economic and trade cooperation, regional integration, connectivity, and expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, green economy, and low-carbon transition.

He further stated that the year marks an important juncture for China-ASEAN relations, including the 35th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations and the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He reaffirmed China's commitment to working with ASEAN to build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home. He also underlined Thailand's important role in advancing China-ASEAN relations and encouraged ASEAN countries, including Thailand, to make full use of the ACCF as an important funding channel to broaden practical cooperation between China and ASEAN.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, through his pre-recorded remarks extended his appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Mission of the People's Republic of China to ASEAN, the ACCF Management Team, and the ASEAN Secretariat for organising the training. He emphasised that the workshop plays a crucial role in enhancing the capacities of proponents in Thailand to develop results-based ASEAN cooperation projects that strengthen ASEAN-China relations and support ASEAN Community-building efforts.

He stressed the critical importance of regionality in ASEAN cooperation project proposals, noting that such projects are designed to address challenges at the regional level, generate synergy with other initiatives, respond to shared concerns, and strengthen cooperation among ASEAN Member States. He also highlighted that partnership, and collaboration are the essential element of successful projects and encouraged participants to continue their collaboration with AMT and ASEC beyond the workshop.

The training was attended by over 70 participants from more than 30 Thai government agencies involved in the development of the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. The three-day training included presentations, exercises, group work, and discussions led by AMT and ASEC on developing regional project proposals and managing ASEAN cooperation projects using a results-based management approach.

At the end of the training, participants developed and presented eight regional project proposal drafts on: (1) Advancing ASEAN's Circular Economy Stakeholders and MSME Readiness: Innovation, Partnerships, and Lessons from China; (2) ASEAN-China Cooperation on Fish Recruitment Restoration in the Lower Mekong Basin through Mobile Hatchery Innovation; (3) ASEAN-China Partnership for Community Empowerment through Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and Local Innovation toward Sustainable Poverty Reduction; (4) Strengthening ASEAN Capacity to Combat Online Scams through ASEAN-China Cooperation (2027-2029); (5) Capacity Building Programme on Countering Cyber Scam Centres; (6) ALL-IN: Enhancing Digital Literacy for Inclusive Social Development in ASEAN; (7) Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Evidence-Based Capacity for Transboundary Water Pollution Management toward Nature-Based Solutions in the Mekong Sub-region; and (8) Capacity Building for the Implementation of the Standardized Manual on Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles for School-Aged Children in the ASEAN Region.

The training concluded with the presentation of the group project proposal drafts, reflecting the participants' strengthened understanding of ASEAN cooperation project development, regionality, results-based management, and the use of ACCF as a platform to support practical ASEAN-China cooperation. The training culminated in the awarding of certificates to the participants by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, marking their successful completion of the course.

Image credit: ACCFMT