The three-day 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Forum on International Communication & Chinese (Guangdong) Companies Going Global opened at the Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center on Nov 28.

The forum, with a theme of "Cooperation, Communication, and Value," is sponsored by the Publicity Department (Information Office) of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Zhuhai government.

Guangdong, a pioneer in the country's Reform & Opening Up, is bringing its achievements up to date along with its potential to broaden international cooperation.

Twenty-four enterprises are demonstrating the level of Guangdong's going-out by showcasing their most remarkable accomplishments supporting the Belt & Road Initiative -- a national development strategy for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road.

Science and technology, culture, pharmaceuticals, food, and high-tech equipment manufacture are the main sectors on the agenda. 

Conference hall readied [Photo by Li Danyuan]

GAC New Energy Automobile Co Ltd, established just this July by Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd, is showcasing products used to make major market incursions. Pearl River Piano Group Co Ltd is exhibiting steady steps over the past six decades to become the largest piano manufacturer in the world. Meanwhile, Guangzhou Ehang Intelligence Technology Co Ltd, a research developer and producer of airplanes and aircraft; and Guangdong Provincial Publishing Group, the largest publishing group in South China, are displaying products with equal pride.

Gree Electric Appliances headquartered in Qianshan of Zhuhai, another exhibitor, always garners a lot of attention for its inspirational development from a major Chinese home appliances manufacturer to one of the world's largest air conditioner suppliers. The company set up its first overseas factory in Manaus, Brazil in 1999.

More details are provided in the 2017 Action Report of China (Guangdong) Companies Going Global Under the "Belt & Road Initiative" released during the event. With deep knowledge of the backgrounds, features, and current situations of Guangdong enterprises, consumers can better understand the province's spirit of exploration.

People worldwide are being exposed to the dedication to globalization of the southern Chinese province through the work of journalists from more than 80 media outlets such as Reuters, Tass, and Xinhua.

The publicity is expected to further higher-level international cooperation in the realms of policy, science and technology, trade, finance, infrastructure, and livelihood. The outcome should be win-win cooperation based on complementary advantages leading to integrated development between Guangdong and countries and regions along the Maritime Silk Road, according to the organizer.

Sharing insights are nearly a thousand national agency directors, officials from international organizations, representatives of renowned enterprises in Silk Road countries, prominent experts and academics, and senior media executives.

Discussion is being ignited at three parallel forums: Cooperation & Dialogue Between Chinese & Foreign Media, The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Reshape the New Pattern of Trade, and Life Science Research Contributions to the Silk Road With a Focus on Health.

Forty-nine high-profile figures and industry leaders are to give speeches on going global. They include He Yafei, former Chinese vice-foreign minister and former deputy director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council; Jia Kang, former director of the Research Institute for Fiscal Science, the Ministry of Finance; Song Lihong, an inspector at the Comprehensive Department of the Ministry of Commerce of China; Ujhely Istvan, president of the Europe-China One Belt, One Road Culture & Tourism Development Committee; Helga Zepp-LaRouche, a German political activist who founded the LaRouche movement's Schiller Institute; Dong Mingzhu, chair and CEO of Gree Electric Appliances; and Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and recipient of the 2017 Chinese Government Friendship Award.

An evening art show was held at the Zhuhai Huafa & CPAA Grand Theatre on Nov 28 to promote the Maritime Silk Road. Performances of instrumental music, song, dance, and martial and folk arts celebrated the local Lingnan culture.

Officials hailed the forum as a great opportunity that should be seized by Zhuhai enterprises. To form increased access to the outside world, companies are urged to enhance competitiveness and to accelerate Belt & Road cooperation.