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On 9 May 2019, the 16th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit Liaison Officials’ Meeting was held in Beijing. Mr. Zhang Shenfeng, Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and Mr. Yang Jinbai, Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, attended the meeting and delivered speeches.

Mr. Zhang Shenfeng pointed out that after 15 years of development, the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit has become an important platform for government-enterprise dialogue, trade and investment exchange and regional economic cooperation between China and ASEAN. With the theme of “Jointly building the Belt and Road and Shaping the Future of Cooperation”, the Summit provides important guidance for deepening practical cooperation under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative. The Summit should continue to carry out the existing programmes inviting more participants from ASEAN chambers of commerce and business associations, provide more services for small and medium-size enterprises, and promote cooperation between Chinese and ASEAN industrial and commercial circles for common development.

Vice Chairman Yang Jinbai said that as a frontier area for exchanges between China and ASEAN countries, Guangxi not only facilitates but also benefits from the Summit. This year, Guangxi will continue to hold the 16th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit to deepen cooperation with ASEAN countries and promote the reform of the Summit. Guangxi will also take full advantage of the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement to promote the overall upgrade of the Free Trade Area, create a better business environment and more opportunities for Chinese and ASEAN enterprises and promote the building of ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

Representatives of the Ministry of Commerce of China, AMS embassies in China, chambers of commerce and business associations from ASEAN countries and ASEAN-China Centre listened to the briefing on the proposed activities to be held at the 16th Summit, discussed on the content and related arrangements, and put forward suggestions accordingly.