Forum held in guangzhou to boost maritime silk road investment

By APD Writer Zeng Xinlan

The forum on integration and development of industry and finance was held on September 22nd in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province, as part of the four-day 2017 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo.

The forum centered around three issues, namely, investment policies and opportunities in Africa, Maritime Silk Road think tank forum and financial cooperation and innovation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, more than 20 business associations and chambers of commerce from the countries along the Maritime Silk Road signed a memorandum on cooperation on practical Chinese language training, to promote international professional Chinese language training program globally.

Politicians and scholars attending the opening ceremony of the forum included Jiang Zengwei, chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, Fiji’s Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Johnson Elimo, governor of Chuuk State, Federated

States of Micronesia, Long Yongtu, former vice minister and chief representative for trade negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC). Ma Xingrui, the governor of Guangdong Province delivered the opening speech.

He said that undistracted attention should be paid to the development of the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Great Bay Area”. Long Yongtu said in his speech that the Chinese side should pay respect to the laws, regulations and cultures of countries along the Maritime Silk Road and develop finance in a sustainable and environmentally friendly

manner.

At the sub-forum held in the afternoon, Ms. Zhao Yufang, former vice governor of Guangdong Province, Huang Zheng, deputy director of Policy Planning Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Wang Liyong, deputy director of China Center for Contemporary World Studies, gave speeches. Wang said the Chinese think tanks are flourishing in recent years and it is high time that we should focus on the think tanks’ role as bridge for international exchanges, promoting mutual understanding and truly benefiting the public.

The forum was held by the organizing committee of the 2017 Guangdong

21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo and Guangzhou government.

（ASIA PACIFIC DAILY）