On the afternoon of Nov. 29th, the 3rd “China (Guangdong)-ASEAN Cooperation Forum and Promotion Conference for Sino-Vietnam (Shenzhen-Haiphong) Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone” was held in Guangzhou Dong Fang Hotel, under the theme of “Mutual Beneficial Cooperation, Inclusive Growth: China-Vietnam Cooperation under the Background of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area”. This forum was co-organized by Foreign Affairs Office of People’s Government of Guangdong Province and Guangdong Research Institute for International Strategies.
Distinguished guests included delegations of Consulate General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines, Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, Royal Thai Consulate General, Royal Consulate General of Cambodia and Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou as well as the delegation from Ho Chi Minh City. Also attended were Fu Lang and Su Caifang, respectively director and deputy director of Foreign Affairs Office of People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Sui Guangjun, vice president of GRIIS and CPC secretary of GDUFS, Li Guanghui, director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies of CAITEC, Zheng Jianrong, vice director general of Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province and so on.
Opening Ceremony: Close Collaboration between China and ASEAN
Fu Lang, from Foreign Affairs Office of People’s Government of Guangdong Province, issued in the opening remark that China and ASEAN were closely related both in geography and personnel. Close collaboration has been established due to their mutual complementarity. This year marks the ten years' anniversary and 2 years' anniversary respectively for the sign of “Framework and Investment Agreement on China-ASEAN Overall Economic Cooperation” and the establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Now the practical cooperation between China and ASEAN is entering a new stage of development. In the context of the present complicated international environment, communication and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries will be a highlight in Asia and even the world. Therefore, promoting China-ASEAN cooperation is of great significance in the diplomatic affairs of Guangdong.
Mr. To Quoc Tuan introduced the current situation of politics and economy in Vietnam
Mr. To Quoc Tuan, consul-general of Consulate General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Guangzhou, gave a brief introduction about the current situation of politics and economy in Vietnam. The government of Vietnam is making every effort to stabilize the macro-economy, improve people’s living standard and advance the quality of economic growth. Priority is as well given to improving the market-oriented economic system, further developing the quality of human resources and constructing modernized supporting facilities with the joint efforts of home and abroad. He also mentioned that Vietnam was adopting diversified policies of opening to the outside world in order to take on an active role in the international community. As leaders of China and Vietnam had reached a consensus on their strategic cooperation, both of these two countries have achieved rapid development in tourism, economy and trade.
Keynote Speech: Mutual Beneficial Cooperation, Inclusive Growth
Li Guanghui delivered a speech on “China’s Investment to ASEAN and Cooperation with Vietnam”
In the speech of “China’s Investment to ASEAN and Cooperation with Vietnam”, Li Guanghui stated that China’s investment into ASEAN was growing and expanding rapidly, concentrating on Singapore which owns bigger potential. With the “Framework and Investment Agreement on China-ASEAN Overall Economic Cooperation” taking effect and getting deepened gradually, China’s investment into ASEAN will be more convenient and transparent.
Nguyen Son emphasized on the interactions between countries
Nguyen Son, office director of National Committee of International Economics Cooperation of Trade and Industry Department of Vietnam, mentioned that with the constant friendly cooperation between China and ASEAN, China had turned into the biggest economy and trade partner of ASEAN and the cooperation had been extended to political areas. Nguyen Son also suggested, “We should strengthen the interactions between countries so as to achieve thorough integration. Vietnam enjoys exceptional advantages in geographical environment, labour price, natural resources and domestic market, so Guangdong and Vietnam own great potential of joint development.”
Sui Guangjun spoke in terms of development results, strategic importance of development and development suggestions
Sui Guangjun mainly spoke of the function of Guangdong in China-ASEAN cooperation in terms of development results, strategic importance of development and development suggestions. With the intricacies and tough situation of the world economy, Guangdong and ASEAN countries should take full advantage of the considerable collaboration space of both sides and seek mutual beneficial cooperation and inclusive growth. In addition, Sui Guangjun put forward four suggestions as follows: deepening regional trade cooperation, promoting regional investment cooperation, enlarging cooperation in service scope and strengthening the development of Shenzhen-Haiphong Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.
Zheng Jianrong gave a speech on “Opportunities and Challenges to Guangdong in China-ASEAN Cooperation”
Zheng Jianrong gave a speech on “Opportunities and Challenges to Guangdong in China-ASEAN Cooperation”. As he stated, since the establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, China has been more accessible to foreign investments of high quality and at the same time facing challenges of cultural integration, spreading of financial crisis, resurging of trade protectionism and awareness of self-blindness. “We will stick to the new way of development which underlines systematized guidance, overall collaboration and deep integration and continue to promote China-ASEAN cooperation.”
Promotion Conference for Sino-Vietnam (Shenzhen-Haiphong) Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone
Shenzhen Shenyue Joint Investment Co., Ltd. and Bros Holding Limited signing a contract
In order to put “going-out strategy” into practice, the government of Shenzhen established Sino-Vietnam (Shenzhen-Haiphong) Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Vietnam, which is an industrial center and manufacturing base of the traditional competitive industries of Shenzhen. Gao Lin, deputy director of Economy, Trade and Information Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, addressed that functional department concerned would provide service and support for the cooperation zone. After that, Jin Weihua, from the Business Department of Shenzhen Shenyue Joint Investment Co., Ltd., made a brief introduction to the project plan and the overall situation. The signing ceremony of Shenzhen Shenyue Joint Investment Co., Ltd. and Bros Holding Limited was held at the conference.
