On 7 July 2022, co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM), State Administration for Market Regulation, Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Government of Gansu Province, the 28th China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair (hereinafter referred to as the Lanzhou Fair) and the High-Level Forum on the Silk Road Cooperation and Development was opened in Lanzhou, Gansu Province.

With the aim of “Opening-up, Innovation and Green Development”, and the theme of “Deepening Practical Cooperation for Prosperity of the Silk Road”, this year’s Lanzhou Fair was held both online and offline. Mr. Gao Yunlong, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chairman of ACFIC, and President of the All-China Chamber of Industry and Commerce, attended and announced the opening of the 28th Lanzhou Fair. Mr. Yin Hong, Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Gansu Provincial People’s Congress, delivered a welcome speech. Mr. Ren Zhenhe, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Governor of Gansu Province, chaired the opening ceremony and the high-level forum. Ms. Guo Tingting, Member of the CPC Leading Group and Assistant Minister of MOFCOM, Mr. Zhou Naixiang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Governor of Shandong Province (Province of Honor), Mr. Fan Jinlong, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Leading Group of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Congress (Province of Honor), Mr. Y.B. Senator Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia (Country of Honor), and Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of United Arab Emirates (Country of Honor), addressed the forum. Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), attended the opening ceremony.

The 2022 Gansu Global Investment Promotion Conference was held on the afternoon of 7 July. With the theme of “Integrating into the New Pattern of World Development and Promoting the High-Level Opening-up of Gansu Province”, the conference set up a main venue in Lanzhou and video-linked with four sub-venues in Germany, Spain, Thailand and Hong Kong, China. Mr. Zhang Jingang, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Deputy Governor of Gansu Provincial Government, Mr. Liu Dianxun, Director-General of Investment Promotion Agency of MOFCOM, Mr. Fernando Lugris, Ambassador of Uruguay to China, Mr. Cenko Yuri, Ambassador of Belarus to China, and Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the conference.  

Secretary-General Chen Dehai said in his speech that ASEAN and China have jointly created the most dynamic and promising model of regional cooperation in the world. With the ASEAN-China relations entering a new development stage, the friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between Gansu Province and ASEAN Member States (AMS) are facing greater development opportunities. As an intergovernmental organization jointly established by ten ASEAN countries and China, the ASEAN-China Centre will continue to play its role as a bridge, continue to support, cooperate and participate in exchanges and cooperation between Gansu Province and AMS in various fields, and make unremitting efforts to deepen the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

At the conference, Mr. Zhang Yinghua, Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Gansu Province, introduced the overall situation and investment environment of Gansu. Representatives of four state-level economic development zones in Lanzhou, Tianshui, Jinchang and Zhangye made an introduction and promotion of key investment projects. Six cooperation projects were signed at the conference, including one signed online and five signed offline with contract value of about 539 million yuan, covering the fields of new energy, new materials, food processing and cultural tourism.

ACC Secretary-General Chen Dehai also attended the welcome banquet of Lanzhou Fair on the evening of 6 July.