On 24 November 2017, Dianchi Forum for Lancang-Mekong Cooperation 2017 was held at the Dianchi Convention & Exhibition Center in Kunming, Yunnan province. The forum was co-hosted by Asia Financial Cooperation Association and ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), and organized by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Yunnan Sub-council，Yunnan Minzu University, etc. Mr. Gao Shuxun, Member of the CPC Leadership Group of the Government of Yunnan Province, Mr. Zhang Wei, Vice Chairman of CCPIT, Ms. Cao Jing, National Coordinator of China Secretariat for Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and other invited participants attended the forum and delivered remarks. More than 600 representatives from the governments, enterprises and academic circles of China and countries along the Mekong River participated in the forum.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Gao Shuxun expressed in his remarks that, to comprehensively advance the level of opening up, Yunnan province is now focusing on infrastructure connectivity, promotion of international production capacity cooperation, structuring a modern industry system, and deepening people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. Yunnan will also make full use of its advantages and take an active part in its efforts to construct FTA along the border, and to push forward the construction of Indo-China Peninsula Economic Corridor, with a view to facilitating opportunities for the mutually beneficial cooperation and development of the Lancang-Mekong Area. Mr. Zhang Wei, Vice Chairman of CCPIT, pointed out countries along the Mekong River are rich in agricultural products such as rice and tropical fruits, which are deeply favored by Chinese consumers. In recent years, Lancang-Mekong countries are upgrading their industries. Their featured industrial products, such as integrated circuit, machinery equipment, have a strong competitiveness in Chinese market. China is a big country in terms of manufacturing scale and has vast consumption capability. Chinese industrial products especially iron and steel, electronic products are good in quality, and also have increasing demands of imported qualified goods. He suggested, both sides should further tap trade potentials and create more bright spots in trade.

After the opening ceremony, the invited participants had in-depth discussion on such topics as Lancang Mekong cooperation, cross-border cooperation, trade and investment facilitation, adhering to the theme of “co-consulting new initiatives, co-building new mechanism, co-winning new development”. They also proposed many constructive suggestions on jointly expanding areas and channels of cooperation, and measures for deepening cooperation.

The?representative?from?ACC attended the opening ceremony and other relevant events, and interacted with the?participants on issues of co-building the Belt and Road, jointly pushing forward China-ASEAN FTA and sub-regional cooperation such as Lancang-Mekong cooperation etc.