Program aims to usher in new era

The East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform (EAMCP), a high-level program under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative that was originally proposed by Premier Li Keqiang, is expected to usher in a brand-new era in maritime cooperation among countries including China, Japan, South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, participants agreed at a recent forum.

With the theme of "connectivity brings mutual win-win results", the first Huangdao Forum of EAMCP was held from Tuesday to Thursday in the Qingdao West Coast New Area in east China's Shandong province. The forum attracted more than 400 participants including officials, experts and entrepreneurs from related countries.

"All the countries should enhance practical cooperation in marine-related fields such as the economy, technology, ecology, disaster prevention and resilience, and culture, in a bid to safeguard peace and security on the seas and ensure the prosperity of the marine sectors," said Chen Lianzeng, deputy director of the State Oceanic Administration of China.

Former foreign minister Li Zhaoxing and former secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia Long Yongtu made key speeches at the opening ceremony.

Li Fengli, director of the administrative committee of the Qingdao West Coast New Area, said the prospect of enhanced cooperation between Qingdao and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, and South Korea is very exciting and the establishment of EAMCP will offer a broader platform for regional cooperation.

He said the forum will build an information-sharing platform for both east and southeast nations to connect with each other and facilitate trade and cultural cooperation.

"Leveraging the platform, partner nations can share information about the economy and culture, and we believe East Asian nations can work together to build an even more vibrant future with closer ties, better channels for information exchanges, an improved cooperation infrastructure and well-designed policies," Li said.

As host of the forum, the Qingdao West Coast New Area will seize the opportunity to accelerate its growth thanks to the opportunities generated from increasing cross-border cooperation taking place in the area.

"The platform has effectively given us a magic pen with which we can redraw the area in front of a global audience," Li added.

A joint proposal released at the forum called for industrial and commercial enterprises to build harmonious relationships and carry out pragmatic cooperation and increase trade and investment opportunities in the context of globalization.

There were also four parallel sessions: an East Asia Culture and Arts Exhibition, East Asia Commodities Fair, East Asia Marine Summit Forum and East Asia Seaport Alliance Assembly.

huqing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/29/2016 page12)