On 26 July, 2016 East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform Huangdao Forum was held in Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province. The Forum was co-hosted by China State Oceanic Administration (SOA) and Shandong Provincial Government. More than 300 guests from 10 ASEAN Member States, China, Japan and Korea, representing government agencies, research institutions and business communities attended the event. Mr. Chen Lianzeng, Deputy Director General of SOA, Mr. Zhao Runtian, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, Mr. Zhang Xinqi, Mayor of Qingdao City delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. H. E. Mr. Li Zhaoxing, former Foreign Minister of China, H. E. Mr. Long Yongtu, former Minister of Commerce and Mr. Zhang Ruimin, CEO of Haier Group made keynote speeches. Mr. Li Yuan, Director of Trade and Investment Division of ASEAN-China Centre attended the Forum on invitation.
Mr. Chen Lianzeng said that East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform was brought up by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang during the 16th ASEAN+3 Leaders Meeting in 2013. It was aimed at strengthening marine connectivity, scientific research, environmental protection, disaster release and cultural cooperation among East Asian countries. As a coordinating department, SOA would support Shandong Province in pushing forward the construction and development of the Platform, having marine cooperation with relevant countries, and formulating East Asia Marine Cooperation Partnership. This Forum was under the theme of “Connectivity Brings Mutual Win-win Results”. It would build a platform for East Asian regional economic, scientific and cultural communication and cooperation. Committed to fostering a peaceful, harmonious and cooperative sea, the Forum would make contributions to the regional development and prosperity.
Vice Governor Zhao Runtian said that Shandong was a major costal province with a costal line at the length of 3345 km. It had many economic development zones such as Shandong Peninsula Economic Zone and Qingdao West Coast New Area. In recent years, Shandong had a very dynamic cooperation with ASEAN countries in sea food processing, marine shipping and equipment manufacturing. East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform Huangdao Forum had a very significant meaning in promoting China’s economic and cultural communication with Japan, Korea and ASEAN, and in realizing cooperation and win-win results. Shandong would speed up the platform construction, provide more favorable policy conditions and business environment to support Chinese and foreign companies. It would strive for exploring new channel and building new platform for East Asia regional cooperation.
Mr. Zhang Xinqi pointed out that as a major intersection city along the economic corridor of New Eurasia Continental Bridge under the Belt and Road initiative, as well as a strategic pivot city of marine cooperation, Qingdao had been a very important gateway back to Tang and Song Dynasty for China’s foreign trade on the sea. In 2015, Qingdao invested 2.37 billion USD in ASEAN countries, and the bilateral trade volume hit 9.8 billion USD. Qingdao would use its unique geographical advantage and good foundation for economic and trade cooperation, to accelerate the construction of the platform. It would give full play to the innovative role of the platform, and have a positive impact on marine industry development and regional cooperation among ASEAN, China, Japan and Korea.
H. E. Mr. Li Zhaoxing and H. E. Mr. Long Yongtu pointed out in their speeches that under the backdrop of sluggish recovery of global economy, ASEAN Member States were pursuing economic structural reform. It had provide a good opportunity for ASEAN-China infrastructural cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative. ASEAN countries could start with existing bilateral or multilateral FTA, and make good use of the economic strength of China, Japan and Korea, to make an endeavor to construct the Asia Pacific Free Trade Area, and to accelerate the regional economic development. The construction of East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform would provide a peaceful and prosperous perspective for the East Asian region. Each country should uphold the spirit of tolerance and harmony, put the people first, treat each other equally, learn from each other, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. It was expected that all the countries in the region could work together to make Huangdao Forum an influential international forum.
During the Forum, Director Li Yuan also participated in the close meeting of East Asia business leaders, as well as East Asia Business Leaders Summit. He had exchanged views with the participants and officials of Qingdao West Cost New Area on strengthening economic cooperation between Qingdao and ASEAN.