On 21 September 2019, the China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum was successfully held in Nanning. The forum was co-hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and supported by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and national chambers of commerce and industry of ten ASEAN countries. The theme of this year's forum is “Jointly Building the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (hereinafter referred as the Corridor) to Share Development Opportunities”.
Mr. Lu Xinshe, Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Guangxi People’s Congress, Dr. Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore, Ms. Gao Yan, Chairperson of CCPIT, Mr. Bronislaw Komorowski, Former President of Poland, Mr Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, and Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Four hundred officials from Chinese and ASEAN governments and trade promotion agencies, business leaders, experts and scholars, representatives of enterprises, financial institutions, media and international organizations attended the forum.
Mr. Lu Xinshe said that facing the opportunities and challenges brought by the New Corridor, Guangxi would share business opportunities of infrastructure construction, international cooperation on logistics and industry development with countries along the route. Guangxi would make better use of the comparative advantages of regional resources and policies to strengthen cooperation with countries along the route and business circles both in China and ASEAN countries so as to promote mutual benefits and win-win development.
Dr. Koh Poh Koon said that Singapore and China are long-term friendly partners, and now the two countries should work closely together to develop the New Corridor and promote cultural and economic cooperation. He hoped that the regional cooperation mechanism of trade and investment facilitation will be further expanded through the joint building of the New Corridor.
Mr. Gao Yan mentioned that during the G20 Osaka Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would launch a series of major initiatives to accelerate the formation of a new landscape of further opening up, and achieve high-quality development. It would provide more opportunities for ASEAN countries to invest in China.
Mr. Bronislaw Komorowski pointed out that the New Corridor would build an important bridge connecting Western China and Western Europe. Poland has long been friendly to China and hopes to strengthen cooperation with China and ASEAN countries.
Mr. Pan Sorasak stressed that Cambodia and China has maintained solid diplomatic relations and close economic and trade exchanges. The building of the New Corridor has brought new vitality to the partnership between the two sides.
Mr. Chen Dehai said that the year 2020 would be the year for ASEAN-China digital economy cooperation. ASEAN-China relationship is embracing new opportunities for development. Enterprises, chambers of commerce and business associations of both sides should grasp the opportunities brought by digital, internet and smart technologies to expand exchanges and cooperation in the field of digital economy and elevate the level of ASEAN-China economic and trade cooperation.
Participants made suggestions on building of the New Corridor, development of China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, prospect of ASEAN-China cooperation as well as opportunities in logistics and industrial cooperation.
As an important event under the framework of the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS), the Forum has been held for ten consecutive years. At the Forum, the China-Singapore Business Community’s Initiative on Achieving Shared Benefits of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor through Extensive Consultation and Joint Contribution was released. The forum also witnessed the launch of trial operation of the Intelligence Park of China-Singapore Nanning International Logistics Park and the departure of NO. 762 seagoing vessel from Qinzhou Port through the Corridor.
