China-ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Start-up and Innovation Forum 2017 was held in Qinzhou city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from 12 to 14 September 2017. H.E. Mme. Gu Xiulian, Vice Chairperson of the 10th Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Chairperson of China ASEAN Association, attended the Opening Ceremony and announced the curtain-up. Over 200 participants including female leaders, entrepreneurs, governmental officials and scholars related to women’s affairs from China and ASEAN countries, as well as female entrepreneurs from Austria, Canada, Denmark and Australia attended the forum.

As one of the high-level forums under the 14th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), the China-ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Start-up and Innovation Forum is the only high-level forum held outside Nanning. The forum’s theme is female power to drive win-win cooperation, and is aimed at serving for the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting friendly neighbourhood cooperation between China and ASEAN, building a platform of communication and exchanges, wisdom condensation, elegance bearing and start-up and innovation for women entrepreneurs from each country, and pushing forward mutual benefit and development.

At the opening ceremony, Mrs. Li Kang, Vice Chairperson of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mrs. Zhao Hongju, Deputy Director-General of Department of Communication from All-China Women’s Federation, Mrs. Wang Gebing, Party Secretary of CPC Qinzhou Committee and Chairwomen of the Stading Committee of People’s Congress of Qinzhou, Ms. Jiang Hua, Executive Vice President of China Association of Women Entrepreneurs, H.E. Mme. Bundith Prathoumvanh, Vice President of Lao Women’s Union, H.E. Mme. Panida Thepkanjana, Advisor of President of the Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Associations of Thailand, gave their remarks respectively. Mrs. Liu Yongmei, Vice President of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Women’s Federation moderated the opening ceremony. All the participants witnessed the signing of the Framework Cooperation Agreement on China-ASEAN Women’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Base on the forum.

Ten speakers from China and ASEAN countries gave keynote speeches on several topics named as Accelerating the Construction of China-ASEAN Women’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Base, Assuming the Responsibilities of Development by Innovation and Responsibilities, the Belt and Road Initiative and Women in ASEAN Countries, and Her Times transmits Her Strength. They shared new information, experiences and thoughts on women’s start-up and innovation, showed women’s new images and recommended the good environment for innovation and investment. The participants also visited China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and Qinzhou Free Trade Port Area on the forum.

The Forum is co-hosted by China ASEAN Association, China Association of Women Entrepreneurs and People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and undertaken by Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Women’s Federation and Qinzhou Municipal Government. At the invitation of the host, ACC’s representative attended the forum, exchanged views with other participants, briefed on ACC’s work on promoting ASEAN-China practical cooperation, and actively explored future cooperation possibilities with all the participants.