On June 24th, The first China (Guangdong)—ASEAN Strategic Cooperation Forum was held ceremoniously at the academic lecture hall of the sixth teaching building of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). Wan Qingliang the Vice-Governor of Guangdong, Counselor Ye Hong, Sui Guangjun the Secretary of the Party Committee of GDUFS and the Executive Vice-President of Guangdong Research Institute of International Strategy, Zhong Weihe the president of GDUFS, Jiang Ruiping assistant of the president of the Institute of Diplomacy, Ling Dequan the expert of the Xinhua News Agency, Cao Yunhua the Institute Director of South-East research of Jinan University, Lin Minghua the expert on the ASEAN of GRIIS, and many delegates of organs directly under the provinces and enterprises, and also students attended the meeting.
Hosted by Sui Guangjun, the forum with the topic of “Cultural Communication, Win-win Cooperation”, aimed to build up an exchange platform for people from all walks of life and to jointly research the road to development of strategy cooperation of Guangdong and ASEAN.
Sui Guangjun made an opening speech for the forum and represented for GDUFS and GRIIS to give a warm welcome to the guests of honor present.
Build up New Platform for Communication and Cooperation
Wan Qingliang extended warm congratulations on the establishment of the strategy cooperation forum, and made important illustrations on the purpose as well as the significance of the meeting under the cooperation background of China and ASEAN.
"On Jan 1stthis year, the establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area indicates that the cooperation of China and ASEAN has entered into a new stage. Guangdong, as the forerunner of the Reform and Open Policy, should seize the historic opportunity to build the free trade area, and all around deepen the cooperation with ASEAN in every field." he pointed. On how to promote the trade cooperation of China-ASEAN, Wan Qingliang put forward "Three Perseverance": perseverance in the combination of building international sight and looking for opportunities and cooperation, economy and trade cooperation and promoting cultural soft power, pragmatically promote cooperation and perfect the cooperation mechanism. He hoped that GRIIS could unite the elites of the whole province to work for the enterprises through the China—ASEAN Strategy Cooperation Forum.
Yu Hong confirmed the position of the forum, thinking that it will help enterprises to have an intimate knowledge of the ASEAN market, reduce the risks that culture conflict will bring to the operation of enterprises, and smooth the way for the free trade area to grow healthily. In addition, she briefly introduced the development of ASEAN, the relationship between China and ASEAN, and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, bringing help to Guangdong enterprises' entering to ASEAN.
Coping with the danger and opportunity of “entering into ASEAN”
In view of the opportunity and challenge that China’s enterprises are facing, Jiang Ruiping made a speech with the topic of “Economic Trends and Integration Process of ASEAN”, analyzing the basic trends of business upturn of the ASEAN economy. He emphasized the double effects that social cultural environment will have on trade investment cooperation.
As a researcher of the research center of world issues of the Xinhua News Agency, Ling Dequan believed that Guangdong had the ability as well as responsibility to play a role as a leader with other provinces, cities and villages and made great contributions to lifting the strategy companionship of facing peace and prosperity of China—ASEAN to new heights.
Reinforce the soft strength of “Go global”
The future development of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area needs Chinese businessmen. Cao Yunhua repeatedly emphasized the great influence oversea Chinese in Southeast Asia will make on the assistance for Guangdong enterprises’“Go global”. He also suggested that enterprises should well know and take advantage of this treasure human resources and occupy the Southeast Asian market.
Enterprises all together and jointly discussed about “entering into ASEAN”
On June 24thafternoon, the first symposia of China—ASEAN Strategy Cooperation Forum with the topic of “Broaden and Promote ASEAN Market Experience, Dilemma, and Countermeasure” hosted by the Vice President of GDUFS Yeli Gu, was convened at the Guangsheng lecture hall of the MBA center, located in the sixth teaching building of the north campus of GDUFS.
Ling Dequan, Expert Lin Minghua and many delegates of enterprises had a facet-to-facet and point-to-point interaction on the achievement, hardship, and puzzle coming from the process of enterprises’ expanding markets.
In the course of “Go global”, enterprises gathered many effective and innovative experience. However, many uncertain factors such as regional protectionism, instability of economic environment, and public relations of the government, are testing the wisdom and courage of the enterprises.
Yeli Gu pointed out that the symposium aimed at provided a communication platform for enterprises, government, and experts to explore the development direction for the Pearl River Delta Region’s entering into ASEAN. He also emphasized that enterprises should act with wisdom. FirstlyDo in Rome as Rome Doesand secondly step on innovative development road.
The well-organized and heated forum ended in the inspiring and horizon-broaden speech. The entrepreneurs present indicated that they had learned from the forum.
