The Best Platform for Building the "Belt & Road Initiative"

China's Information Office of the State Council holds a press conference for the 12th China-ASEAN Expo on July 29 in Beijing. [Photo/CAEXPO Secretariat]

To facilitate in building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a grand event, the 12th China-ASEAN Expo, will soon take place on September 18th through 21st in Nanning, China.

The news came from a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council in Beijing on July 29, attended by Madam Gao Yan, vice minister of commerce of China, Mr. Yu Ping, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Mr. Zhang Xiaoqin, vice governor of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the permanent host province of the CAEXPO, as well as 54 journalists of 35 media outlets from the Chinese Mainland, China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, and other countries.

Cooperation between ASEAN and China maintains fast growth, and the CAEXPO is playing an important role in this regard. According to Vice Minister Gao Yan, as the China-ASEAN FTA moves forward, China and ASEAN countries are strengthening political trust, speeding up bilateral trade and integrating their economies for common development. Until the end of 2014, bilateral investment exceeded US$130 billion. China became the largest trading partner for ASEAN, and ASEAN became the third largest trading partner of China. Reciprocal cooperation between both sides is deepening, and a number of cooperation projects have been launched in electric power, bridges, agriculture and manufacturing. Madam Gao said the CAEXPO will deliver fruitful outcomes and become a model for cooperation.

The 12th CAEXPO will invest more effort in the Belt and Road Initiative. Mr. Zhang Xiaoqin said that this year marks a crucial stage for building the Initiative and the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Year as well. With that background, the 12th CAEXPO will have new highlights as follows: first, it will have the theme “building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Creating a New Blueprint for Maritime Cooperation” and arrange high-end activities to promote friendly exchanges and economic cooperation. Second, it will bring about more opportunities for China and ASEAN countries to improve the China-ASEAN FTA and increase cooperation in trade and finance. It will set up the first International Industrial Capacity Cooperation Zone and organize the China-ASEAN Forum on Infrastructure Construction and International Capacity Cooperation. Third, it will explore the international market by inviting Korea and more countries along the Belt and Road to visit the event. Other supporting organizations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Trade Center (ITC) will arrange the Symposium on Roles of Trade Facilitation on Regional Integration of Asia & Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the WTO during the 12th CAEXPO.

Preparations for the 12th CAEXPO are in full swing. Chinese and ASEAN companies show great enthusiasm for the event, with many applications for booths. Apart from China and ASEAN countries, the US, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Hungary, Turkey, and other countries from South America and Middle East will participate as trade visitors. Cities of Charm of China and the 10 ASEAN countries have been decided. Thailand, the Country of Honor for the 12th CAEXPO, will organize an inaugural ceremony for its national pavilion, a national promotion conference, roundtable talks between its visiting leader and entrepreneurs, and other activities throughout the fair period.