Communication 21 Media Group Advances China–ASEAN Connectivity with Strategic China Expansion and Appointment of Mr. Ning Ke as Honorary Chairman

Lee Khai Jun

• 2 min read
Communication 21 Media Group Advances China–ASEAN Connectivity with Strategic China Expansion and Appointment of Mr. Ning Ke as Honorary Chairman

Kuala Lumpur / Shanghai — 20th February 2026

Communication 21 Media Group today announced a significant strategic advancement in its China–ASEAN development roadmap with the appointment of Mr. Ning Ke as Honorary Chairman of the China-To-ASEAN Initiative（中国至东盟倡议） and the acceleration of its China expansion through the establishment of its Shanghai headquarters.

This milestone marks a new phase in the Group’s commitment to institutionalising structured economic connectivity between China and ASEAN, reinforcing its long-term vision of building a responsible, technology-enabled and strategically aligned regional industrial ecosystem.

As part of this expansion, Communication 21 Media Group is advancing the establishment of its China headquarters in Shanghai under the proposed entity, Communication 21 Media Group (Shanghai) Ltd, strengthening its operational, regulatory and institutional presence within China’s economic landscape.

Upon establishment, Mr. Ning Ke will serve as Honorary Chairman of the Shanghai headquarters, providing strategic oversight and leadership guidance as the Group deepens its engagement with Chinese enterprises and institutional partners.

Mr. Ning Ke brings distinguished leadership experience spanning national defence aviation and public governance. A Special-Class Air Force fighter pilot and all-weather flight instructor, he served in senior operational roles including formation leader, flight commander, flight theory instructor under the Southern Air Command, and Deputy Division Commander of Flight Operations. He was awarded both Second-Class Merit Citation and Third-Class Merit Citation during his military service and served as instructor to astronaut Jing Haipeng, who has completed four space missions.

In public administration, Mr. Ning Ke held senior supervisory and inspection roles at municipal level, including Deputy Head of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team stationed at the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau and Deputy Head of a Municipal Party Committee Inspection Team, holding the rank of Second-Level Inspector (Deputy Departmental Level). He currently serves as Honorary Vice Chairman of the Global Confederation of Belt And Road Economic Cooperation.

The establishment of the Shanghai headquarters reflects Communication 21 Media Group’s strategic intent to:

  • Institutionalise its China operations under a structured governance framework
  • Support compliant and sustainable overseas expansion of Chinese enterprises (出海) into ASEAN markets
  • Enhance regulatory alignment and policy coherence across cross-border initiatives
  • Strengthen collaboration with Chinese industry associations, chambers, and commercial institutions
  • Facilitate trusted industrial and commercial matching through data-driven infrastructure

Through its flagship platforms — the ASEAN-Connect Initiative（东盟互联互通倡议）, the China-To-ASEAN Initiative（中国至东盟倡议）, and the Catalog Connect digital backbone — Communication 21 Media Group is advancing a comprehensive regional connectivity architecture designed to integrate industrial networks, commercial ecosystems, and technology-enabled collaboration across China and Southeast Asia.

As global supply chains recalibrate and ASEAN emerges as a critical partner in regional growth and diversification strategies, Communication 21 Media Group is positioning itself as a structured bridge between China and ASEAN — combining institutional relationships, industry alignment, and scalable digital infrastructure to support long-term economic cooperation.

This strategic development underscores the Group’s commitment to advancing a sustainable, balanced, and future-oriented China–ASEAN economic partnership grounded in trust, structure, and shared prosperity.