Forum to explore wide development options

From financial services to environmental protection technologies, from cultural exchanges to education, from healthcare to weather monitoring, the annual China-ASEAN Expo has boosted China-ASEAN relations to a higher level.

Through high-profile forums, the expo has helped China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations build cooperation in a range of fields.

According to the organizers, 143 high-profile forums have been held during the expo in the past 12 years, covering areas such as interconnectivity, science and technology, customs, quarantine and quality inspection, finance, information and legislation.

Some milestone cooperation projects and mechanisms have been launched, including the China-ASEAN Information Harbor Base, the China-ASEAN Port Cities Cooperation Network, the China-ASEAN Entrepreneurs Federation and the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center.

There were also specific exhibitions and shows to showcase the latest achievements in China-ASEAN collaboration. These included cultural and tourism shows and exhibitions for the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

The conference for leaders of overseas Chinese with ancestral origins in Guangxi, which was held during last year's expo, offered a new networking platform for Guangxi's businesses to go global.

In addition to business promotion, there were many cultural events, including a folk song festival, car races, sports events and many people-to-people exchanges between China and ASEAN members.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relationship and is crucial for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The 13th China-ASEAN Expo, to be held in Nanning from Sept 11 to 14, will have 35 forums and conferences centering on the Belt and Road Initiative.

zhaoshijun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/29/2016 page10)