On 17 September 2020, the opening ceremony of 2020 ASEAN-China (Guiyang) Belt and Road Culture and Tourism Exchange Week was held in Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. Mr. Wang Shijie, Vice Governor of Guizhou Province, Mr. Chen Yan, Mayor of Guiyang City, Mr. Raja Dato’ Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, Malaysian Ambassador to China, Mr. Adama Compaore, Burkina Faso Ambassador to China, Mr. Dumitru Braghis, Moldovan Ambassador to China, Mr. Dusan Bella, Slovakian Ambassador to China and delegates from diplomatic missions, enterprises and media from Europe, Africa and ASEAN countries were present. Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), attended relevant activities and delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony. 

Vice Governor Wang Shijie announced the openingof 2020 ASEAN-China (Guiyang) Belt and Road Culture and Tourism Exchange Week. 

Mayor Chen Yan delivered a welcome speech. He said that under the guidance of the Belt and Road Initiative and Quality Development approach, Guiyang has improved its partnership with ACC and other relevant partners in various fields in recent years. After 3 years of efforts, the China-ASEAN (Guiyang) Culture and Tourism Exchange Week has become an important platform for international exchanges and cooperation between Guiyang and ASEAN as well as other countries and regions along the Belt and Road route. Since the beginning of this year, Guiyang has coordinated efforts to keep the COVID-19 under control and restart economic activities.Under the new circumstances, it is hopedthat all relevant parties will work together to make the Exchange Weeka success and further advance the externalexchanges and cooperation of Guiyang and the rest of China. 

Ambassador Nushirwan mentioned that this year coincides with the 2020 ASEAN-China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation. He suggested that Guiyang should make full use of its advantages of big data industry to further expand and deepen its digital economy cooperation with ASEAN countries. In recent years, Malaysia and Guiyang have carried out many cooperativeprojects, yielding fruitful results. The Culture and Tourism Exchange Week, he said, will definitely help Guiyang to promote the popularity and attraction of its tourism brand, since it is the summer paradise and favorite destination for many tourists.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai stated thatfacing the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19, ASEAN and China made joint efforts battling the pandemic and secured an early victory.The year 2020 coincides with the ASEAN-China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation. As the core area of the National Big Data Pilot Zone and a well-known tourist destination,Guiyanghas unique advantages in carrying out international exchanges and cooperation, especially with ASEAN. He believed that the Culture and Tourism Exchange Week will make more contributions to the quality development of Guiyang’s culture and tourism industry as well as the people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation between ASEAN and China.

Following the opening ceremony, Secretary-General Chen Dehai gave aninterview to local media, andvisited the headquarters of International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA).  

The 3rdASEAN-China (Guiyang) Belt and Road Culture and Tourism Exchange Weekbegan on 16 September and ended on 20 September.It’s composed of Workshop on Digital Economy and Culture & Tourism Industry Revitalization,tourism promotion events by four countries including Thailand,Import and Export Expo and technical tours to local attractions.