On Sept 15, the 11th CAEXPO Business Networking Conference was held in Nanning around the theme of “win-win cooperation and jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.”

Mo Changying, vice-chairman of the CPPCC Guangxi Committee, first delivered a welcome speech and made a toast. She said in her speech that in today’s world, cooperation and development is the trend.

Practice has proved that the Maritime Silk Road is the road to win-win cooperation, and the CAEXPO has injected new meaning and more robust development momentum for the Maritime Silk Road.

This year marks the start of China and the ASEAN jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and the “Diamond Decade.”

This year’s Country of Honor, Singapore, will hold more pragmatic activities. Australia will hold promotion activities, and more well-known enterprises from within and outside the China-ASEAN region are coming.

Tan Lin, director of the department of economic service of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, put forward three proposals:

(1) Business circles from both sides continue to expand contacts, enhance mutual understanding, tap cooperation potential, strengthen strategic cooperation and further complement each other’s advantages.

(2) Strengthen investment cooperation and improve the competitiveness of enterprises in the international economy.

(3) Chambers of commerce from both sides should strengthen communication and cooperation, exchange information and learn from each other to endeavor to build a platform of exchange and cooperation for entrepreneurs from China and the ASEAN.

Executive Director of the China-ASEAN Business Council Xu Ningning wished entrepreneurs could grasp the business opportunities of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Xu also hoped China and the ASEAN could reach a consensus on upgrading the China-ASEAN FTA and 16 countries involving China and ASEAN countries, namely “10+6.”

In addition, Xu stressed the importance of negotiating to establish a larger FTA-RECP to gain greater development through the platform of the CAEXPO.

The meeting has promoted the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and accelerated the exchange and cooperation between business communities in China, the ASEAN and the globe. The 11th CAEXPO will further strengthen its cooperation with countries around the CAFTA and expand cooperation areas and fields.

Edited by Michael Thai