China (Guangdong) International Think Tank Forum of 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road Unveiled at GDUFS-留学生教育学院

On May 10th, the China (Guangdong) International Think Tank Forum of 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road was unveiled at GDUFS. Over 200 former politicians, government officials, experts and scholars from 32 countries attended the forum, carrying out discussions and presenting research on the theme of “mutual consultation and trust, mutual assistance and win-win cooperation”.

Under the guidance of the “One Belt, One Road” Think Tank Alliance, the forum was held by the Collaborative Innovation Center for 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road Studies. The forum served as the lead of the union of Chinese characteristic University Think Tank International Forum, which is composed of Xiamen University, Chinese Social Science Economic and Political Research Institute, Business Section Institute for International Trade and Economic cooperation, Chinese Research Institute for International Issues, Centre for Contemporary World Researchesof International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Yunnan University and Jinan University.

ZHAO Yufang

GUO Yezhou

SUI Guangjun

Willy Singano, DU Qiwen, ZHANG Donggang and ZHANG Yan took turns to deliver a speech.

Speeches were delivered by ZHAO Yufang, Dean of Guangdong International Institute for Strategic Studies; GUO Yezhou, the Deputy Minister of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the CPC; Willy Singano, Member of the Parliament ofTonga; DU Qiwen, Former Chinese ambassador to Greece; ZHANG Donggang, Chief of the Social and Science Bureau of Ministry of Education, and ZHANG Yan, the former China’s ambassador to India. ZHAO Yufang indicated that the forum specified the goals of achieving common prosperity, marking a milestone of the enhancement of collaboration of think tanks between China and foreign countries. GUO Yezhou emphasized that four important subjects were to be implemented: Enhance strategic mutual trust between China and other countries along the Road; Expand economic and trade cooperation between China and other countries along the Road; Promote cultural and civil exchange between Chinaand other countries along the Road; Strengthen collaboration on maritime affairs between Chinaand other countries along the Road. He also mentioned that China was obligated to make full use of maritime collaboration to strengthen mutual connection and understandings -achieving common development. DU Qiwen mentioned that more and more consensushad been achieved on cooperation between China and the Pacific Islands, so the forum, from which he hoped to gain more inspiration, was held at an appropriate time. ZHANG Donggang pointed out that 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road is the road to peaceful development and friendship: the road to win-win cooperation.

The opening ceremony of the forum was held by SUI Guangjun, Secretary of Party Committee at GDUFS and Deputy Dean of Guangdong International Institute for Strategic Studies and Director of Collaborative Innovation Center for 21st-CenturyMaritime Silk Road Studies. He noted the significance of the forum concerning strengthening the cooperation between China and countries along the Road, promoting cultural and civil exchange and advancing cooperation towards peace and development.

The opening ceremony

At the forum, the Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of Xiamen University, LI Jianfa, read out the Guangzhou Declaration, proclaiming the initiation of the development of “China (Guangdong) International Think Tank Network of 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”. The declaration pointed out that the Network serves as a multinational knowledge community, which helps to promote cooperative research and information sharing, as well as provide policy studies and intellectual support for developing 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, with the aim of expanding “One Belt and One Road”.

Angkor Gelai, XING Houyuan, Steven Nikolas and YUAN Yue giving key-note reports

Four experts gave key-note reports on the construction of the Maritime Silk Road. Chairman of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Burma expressed his vision of establishing mutual trust between China and countries along the Road and promoting cultural and civil exchange. XING Houyuan, Deputy Director of Collaborative Innovation Center for Maritime Silk Road and Steven Nikolas, an academicfrom the Social Science Academy in Australia, expressed their original opinions on national trade and investment, port transportation and information construction. At last, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Port Authority, YUAN Yue, provided new ideas and opinions on port cooperation, which was more practical.

Banum Suyard, OU Xiaoli, HUANG Zheng and CHEN Guangjun delivering speeches

Director of ASEAN Energy Center Banum Suyard; OU Xiaoli, the officer of National Development and Reform Committee; HUANG Zheng, Deputy Director of Planning Department of Foreign Ministry and CHEN Guangjun, Deputy Director of Guangdong Free Trade Area Office, all offered their valuable suggestions on the construction of “One Belt, One Road”, providing their views on the direction of the future development.

Group photo

Representatives had a heated discussion around the issues of enhancing strategic mutual trust between China and other countries along the Road, expanding economic and trade cooperation, promoting cultural and civil exchange between China and other countries along the Road, and strengthening collaboration on maritime affairs between China and other countries along the Road.