Forum brings countries together under BRI framework

Organizers of the 2023 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo Forum are expecting countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to further expand cooperation to achieve economic recovery in the months to come.

Zhang Shenfeng, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said participants at the forum, held in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province on Thursday, should take the opportunity to pool wisdom, build consensus, deepen cooperation and jointly promote the high-quality development of the BRI.

"After a decade of development, the BRI has transformed from concept to action and has become the world's broadest and largest platform for international cooperation," Zhang said at the opening ceremony.

Zhang said China has so far signed more than 200 cooperation documents with 151 countries and 32 international organizations to jointly build the BRI through more than 3,000 projects with an investment scale of nearly $1 trillion.

"This has helped related countries and regions fight the COVID-19 pandemic, achieve economic and social development and improve people's welfare," he added.

The council will organize a series of expos, fairs and related events, including the first China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo, to promote and deepen exchanges in the coming months.

Bhokin Bhalakula, former president of the Parliament of Thailand and former deputy Prime Minister of the Southeast Asian nation, said the expo, held since 2014, has become an important platform for China and ASEAN countries to strengthen in-depth cooperation.

"We are still facing many new challenges in the post-COVID era and we need to promote a strong economic recovery," he said. "The expo helps build and provide a platform to deepen international cooperation."