Forum on B&R Cooperation and Asia Business Conference held in Fuzhou
From May 17 to 19, 2015, the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Forum on "Belt and Road" Cooperation and Asia Business Conference were held in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. The Forum was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Government of Fujian Province, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), the China Enterprise Confederation and the China International Cooperation Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and co-organized by the China-Japan-Korea Economic Development Association.
Wang Qinmin, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chairman of the ACFIC, You Quan, Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Su Shulin, Governor of Fujian Province, Liu Zhenmin, Vice Foreign Minister, Yang Yue, Member of the Standing Committee of Fujian Provincial Committee of the CPC and Secretary of Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, Liu Yupu, Executive President of the China International Cooperation Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Surakiart Sathirathai, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand, the permanent coordinating state of the ACD, Bundit Limschoon, Secretary-General of the Provisional Secretariat of the ACD and senior officials and representatives from 29 member states of the ACD such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey attended the Forum.
Vice Chairman Wang Qinmin expressed in his speech at the opening ceremony that at present the construction of "Belt and Road" has entered a new stage of practical cooperation and the industrial and commercial circles should become active promoters. It is hoped that all people from political and business circles take advantage of this forum for in-depth dialogue and exchanges and offer advice and suggestions for the common development of Asia. Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin introduced the latest developments of the construction of "Belt and Road" and emphasized that the ACD highly tallies with "Belt and Road" in cooperation philosophy, direction and fields therefore all sides should enhance cooperation and coordination for common development. Secretary Yang Yue expressed that Fuzhou will take hosting the Forum as an opportunity to promote all-round exchanges and cooperation with the countries and the regions along the Belt and Road.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand Surakiart Sathirathai expressed at the opening ceremony that the ancient Silk Road played an important role in promoting economic, trade and people-to-people and cultural exchanges for countries along the route. Under the current circumstances, carrying forward the spirit of the Silk Road and revitalizing the Silk Road are conducive to enhancing Asian solidarity and cooperation and promoting regional development and prosperity. The Chinese side has put forward initiatives such as the construction of "Belt and Road" and the preparation for establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), offering huge opportunities for the development of ACD, for which the Thai side appreciates. The Thai side believes that these initiatives and the ACD can promote each other for common development and is willing to work with the Chinese side and other ACD members to further expand cooperation and achieve a more inclusive development.
At the Forum, participators of various countries conducted in-depth discussion on the relationship between the ACD and the construction of "Belt and Road" and the promotion of exchanges and cooperation in finance, economy, trade and other fields. It is widely believed by all parties that the ancient Silk Road was an important link between the East and the West and is an important symbol of the Asian countries sharing peace, cooperation and development. Currently, Asia is embracing a rare opportunity for development and the Chinese side put forward the initiative to build "Belt and Road" at the right time. All Asian countries should make full use of their human resources, technology, culture, energy and other resources to achieve mutual complementarity, mutual benefit and win-win results and form joint efforts. Asian countries should join efforts to back the infrastructure construction in the region and support the development of key industries by giving full play to the advantages of existing multilateral financial cooperation institutions in the region. Asian countries should support the conference and exhibition industry in the region to establish platforms for the enterprises of various countries to exchange information, purchase products and acquire cutting-edge technologies. Asian countries should also strengthen and promote cooperation in industrial and commercial circles to enhance the overall competitiveness of the region.
During the Forum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Government of Fujian Province arranged participators of various countries to visit the Fujian Free Trade Zone and the China-ASEAN Marine Product Trade Center, and to watch the large-scale dance drama "The Dream of the Maritime Silk Road" whose theme is to carry forward the spirit of the Maritime Silk Road. The foreign participators spoke highly of the positive effects of the Forum and the hospitality of the Chinese side.
