A three-day conference themed "New Era, New Silk Road, New Image," opened at the Zhuhai International Convention & Exhibition Center on Sept 19. It deals with strategic issues including Guangdong Province's brand image building and dissemination, scientific and technological innovation, and construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The 2nd 21st Century Maritime Silk Road China (Guangdong) International Communication Forum brought 800 guests the major convention facility in Shizimen Central Business District of Hengqin New Area. They include Central and national committee officials, provincial and municipal senior officials, representatives of the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, foreign consuls in Guangzhou, international organization officials, world-renowned scholars and experts, business executives, media heads, and guests from more than 30 countries and regions.

Shen Haixiong, deputy head of the CPC Central Committee Publicity Department and director of China Media Group, and Guangdong Gov Ma Xingrui delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Also present were Fu Hua, member of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and director of the Publicity Department of the committee; and Xue Xiaofeng, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (CPG) in the Macao SAR.

Shen Haixiong at opening ceremony [Photo by Zhong Fan / Zhuhai Daily]

Shen welcomed guests on behalf of the two departments. Five years ago, he said, Chinese president vowed to promote the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and advance Opening Up and development under the Belt & Road Initiative. This gives contemporary connotations to the ancient Silk Road, he said. The initiative has been generally accepted and actively joined by the international community over the years, and cooperation along the maritime route has been advancing dramatically, he added.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's Reform & Opening Up as well as the 5th anniversary of the Belt & Road Initiative. The forum, at this critical point of time, is therefore of great significance for boosting construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, better building Guangdong’s new image in Opening Up, and widely sharing the limelight of Zhuhai, Shen asserted.

China Media Group, the predominant state radio and television broadcaster in the People's Republic of China, will send out the voice of China, safeguard multilateral trading, and spread the concept of "community with a shared future for mankind," he stated.

Guests will each outline their practices in helping to build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and exchange achievements in terms of keynote speeches, group discussions, and participation in surveys and experience. Shen called for joint efforts to disseminate the spirit of the Belt & Road Initiative and motivate innovative vitality.

Opening ceremony [Photo courtesy Huafa Group]

Gov Ma expressed congratulations on behalf of the CPC Provincial Committee and government. Guangdong, a pioneer of China's Reform & Opening Up, is a key hub of the Belt & Road Initiative, he asserted. Over the past five years, the province has made much progress in implementing the arrangements and requirements of the Central government and bolstering down-to-earth cooperation with the countries along the routes.

Guangdong will adhere to president's thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, seize the historical opportunity arising from construction of the Greater Bay Area, and join hands with Hong Kong and Macao in implementing the Belt & Road Initiative for a vibrant and globally competitive first-grade Bay Area and world-class city cluster, Ma said.

Meanwhile, Guangdong will be more interconnected in terms of infrastructure with countries and territories along the routes. It will also deepen pragmatic partnerships in regards to economy and trade, and science and education, among others. Furthermore, the province will continue to refine the construction of co-operated industrial gardens and projects, and contribute to the shift to high-quality development, he pointed out.

A vital platform to bolster the Belt & Road Initiative, the forum can inspire more extensive consensus for cooperation and steadily fuel joint implementation of the Belt & Road Initiative. Guangdong welcomes investors from the countries along the routes with open arms, and will lend great support to its enterprises to make investment in B&R countries. He called for deepened mutually beneficial cooperation for shared bright prospects.

Representing the organizer, Fu Hua issued the 2018 Action Report on Chinese (Guangdong) Companies Going Global along the Belt & Road at the opening ceremony.