Representatives from Chinese ministries including the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, heads of state-owned enterprises including the China Railway Corporation and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, delegates from 12 Chinese provinces and cities, and representatives from political, business and media circles of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines attended the meetings.
The meeting was co-presided by Chan Chun Sing, Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry, and Tang Liangzhi, mayor of Chongqing Municipality.
The fourth meeting of the implementation committee of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was held from Jan. 7 to 8 in Chongqing.
The meeting reviewed a report on the latest progress of the connectivity project and the construction of the land-sea trade corridor, and confirmed five landmark projects including the land-sea new corridor, China–Singaporespecial data channel, a demonstration zone for financial cooperation, an aviation industrial park and a financial summit.
Chan Chun Sing said against the backdrop of global trade protectionism, the connectivity project has connected China and Singapore with the world. It has reflected China’s determination to open up and integrate its economy into the world.
The strategic connectivity project was signed in November 2015 in Singapore. Now, the third party collaboration project has become an important platform to deepen the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Singapore.
Tang said that for the next step, they will deepen and consolidate the connectivity project, strengthen communication and collaboration, focus on key projects, expand fields of cooperation, highlight core tasks, push for reform and innovation, extend the outcomes of opening up and involve more parties into the project.
The Dialogue on Joint Building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor was held in Chongqing, Jan. 8.
The Dialogue on Joint Building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor was held in Chongqing, Jan. 8.
Tang said some groundbreaking achievements in financial services, aviation industry, transportation logistics and information and communication technology were made in the construction of the land-sea trade corridor, thanks to the support of leaders of the two countries and relevant parties.
He suggested that the two sides should take further efforts to promote connectivity; strengthen international cooperation; and enhance the radiating effect of the corridor to promote personnel, logistics, capital and information cooperation between western China, ASEAN members, and others.
Chan said the connectivity project and the joint building of the land-sea trade corridor conform to the common aspiration of the two countries to improve interconnectivity and strengthen cooperation. They will raise competitiveness of both countries and drive them toward prosperity. He suggested the two sides give full play to the role of the land-sea trade corridor, lower financing cost for enterprises in western China, and strengthen connectivity in the region, between regions and in the world.
The minister said that to lower operating costs and promote greater economic progress, the two sides should improve the transportation network so as to achieve connectivity of data, talents, technologies and finance.
To further enlarge the “circle of friends” of the land-sea trade corridor, governments of Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Yunnan, and Ningxia signed an agreement on joint construction of the land-sea trade corridor on Jan. 7.
