Regional leaders discuss future

Officials from governments of South Asia and regions beyond met for the second time recently to discuss plans for a better future and regional cooperation, in the city of Yuxi in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

A year after the first China-South Asia Cooperation Forum was held in the same city from June 14 to 15, 2018, the second session of the forum opened on Monday.

In addition to attendees from China and South Asia, officials from Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean region, Europe and Oceania, as well as international organizations, took part in this year's forum.

They discussed issues relating to trade and investment, poverty, culture and media.

Ruan Chengfa, governor of Yunnan province, delivered a speech at the forum.

In it, Ruan said Yunnan is a gateway for China-South Asia cooperation because of its connectivity and deep economic and cultural links with South Asia.

He noted Yunnan has deepened and extended cooperation with South Asia in governmental dialogues, trade, investment and culture. Ongoing events like the South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair have created an effective platform for such collaborations.

"Since the first forum held last year, new achievements have been made in the cooperation between Yunnan and South Asian countries," Ruan said. He added regional government cooperation will greatly contribute to cooperation at the state government level.

Yunnan is preparing to establish organizations to implement the action plans and agreements reached at the first and second forum, including a secretariat and liaison office for the forum.

A key event held concurrently to promote intergovernmental cooperation is the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Corridor Governors Forum, which opened on Monday in Kunming.

The GMS, founded in 1992, is a regional cooperation program for six countries along the Mekong-Lancang River including China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

At the GMS governors forum, Yunnan Governor Ruan Chengfa called for concerted efforts in improving connectivity and strengthening construction of infrastructure for trade and investment.

The infrastructure plans that Yunnan hopes to push forward include the China-Laos Railway, China-Thailand Railway, an expressway linking Yunnan's Mohan and Laos capital city Vientiane, and a number of cross-border economic zones.