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On 4 July 2019, co-hosted by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and People’s Government of Gansu Province, co-organized by Department of Commerce of Gansu Province and Economic Cooperation Bureau of Gansu Province, ASEAN-China (Gansu) Trade and Investment Promotion Seminar was successfully held in Lanzhou. Mr. Yu Jian, Vice Governor of Gansu Province and Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC attended the seminar among 120 people including officials of embassies of ASEAN Member States in China, representatives of local authorities and enterprises.

Vice Governor Yu Jian warmly welcomed all the guests on behalf of the People’s Government of Gansu Province. He said that Gansu Province enjoys unique geographical advantage, long history, profound culture, rich resources of traditional Chinese medicine as well as huge potential for industrial development. Trade and investment between Gansu Province and ASEAN countries have grown rapidly with vast business opportunities. At present, Gansu Province is seizing the opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative to vigorously develop ecological industries by adopting a series of policies and measures to promote green development and attract investments from ASEAN enterprises. Secretary-General Chen Dehai said that ASEAN and China enjoy geographical proximity, cultural affinity and common interests. The sustained development of ASEAN-China relations has brought tangible benefits to the people of the region. Gansu Province was a commercial centre of the ancient Silk Road, and now is an important channel for the Belt and Road international cooperation in the new era. The BRI international cooperation presents a rare historic opportunity for Gansu to achieve economic transformation by opening wider to the outside world. The purpose of the Seminar is to promote cooperation in trade, investment and industry between Gansu Province and ASEAN countries, encourage Gansu enterprises to go abroad and attract investment from ASEAN countries, so as to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results.

In the two-way trade and investment promotion session, Ms. Deng Liyang, representative of the Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Commerce of China, elaborated on the upgraded policies of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area for the participating enterprises. Mrs. Donlaporn Ajavavarakula, Minister Counsellor of Royal Thai Embassy, Mrs. Shwe SinOo, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Myanmar, Mr. Dao Viet Anh, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Viet Nam, and representatives of the Embassy of Lao PDR and Enterprise Singapore made presentations respectively on the economic and trade policies and business environment of ASEAN countries. Special promotion on business investment in economic and industrial parks both at home and abroad were also made by representatives of Lanzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone and AMATA Corp. PCL from Thailand.

On the sideline of the Seminar, ACC and the Department of Commerce of Gansu Province organized a field visit to the National Tianshui Economic and Technological Development Zone and Lanzhou Western Pharmaceutical Valley Industrial Park. The visit helped the officials of embassies of ASEAN Member States in China have better understanding of the economic and social development of Gansu Province.