Source: SYSU News Center
Written by: Cai Shanshan, Zhang Ange
Photo by: Jin Feng, Wei Yi
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On November 27, the 2014 Guangzhou Forum, co-sponsored by Counsellors’ Office of the State Council, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government and Sun Yat-sen University, was held on South Campus of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). The theme of the forum was “Building the Maritime Silk Road in the 21st Century”. Government leaders, experts and scholars from universities and research institutes as well as representatives from cities, enterprises, ports and consulates general in Guangzhou were invited to the forum. 
 

2014 Guangzhou Forum held at SYSU
 

Prof. Li Peilin, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said that building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is significant for promoting the friendship, cooperation and win-win between China and other countries along the maritime silk road. CASS will use its research strengths to study major theoretical and practical issues in Guangzhou’s economic and social development, and provide intellectual support for Guangzhou’s reform and construction of national central city.

Mr. Su Zhijia, Chairman of the CPPCC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, said that building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road provides a great opportunity for Guangzhou’s development. Guangzhou will seize the opportunity and make positive contributions.

Prof. Zheng Detao, Secretary of SYSU Party Committee, said that SYSU established the “Research Institute of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” on June 5, 2014. SYSU has been contributing to national and local development since its founding 90 years ago. Guangzhou Forum is an important result of the cooperation between SYSU and Guangzhou. SYSU will assist Guangzhou to improve its core competitiveness, cultural soft power and international influence.
 

Mr. Lin Yifu delivering a speech


Prof. Li Xiangyang delivering a speech
 

The guests and scholars gave keynote speeches from the perspectives of business cooperation, people-to-people exchange, historical investigation, etc. Mr. Lin Yifu, Member of the Standing Committee of the 12th National Committee of the CPPCC, Counselor of the State Council, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Honorary Dean of National School of Development at Peking University, Former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, said that the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is an important initiative for China as well as the world. Guangzhou can play an important role in this process. Mr. Li Xiqui, Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, gave a speech on the role of people-to-people exchange in building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Prof. Li Xiangyang, Director of National Institute of International Strategy at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, gave a speech on coordinated development among coastal regions in building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Prof. Niu Wenyuan, Counselor of the State Council, Chief Scientist and Head of the Sustainable Development Strategy Research Group at Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative from the perspective of China’s new geographical pattern in the new normal. Prof. Song Linfei, Director of Counselors’ Office of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, gave a lecture on the opportunities, challenges and measures in building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
 

Dr. Jonathan Choi Koon-shum delivering a speech


Ms. Nazha Benabbes Taarji-Aschenbrenner delivering a speech
 

Dr. Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, Deputy Director of Committee for Education, Science, Culture, Health and Sports of the National Committee of CPPCC, Permanent Honorary President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, Chairman of Sunwah Group, talked about joining hands to create win-win for Guangzhou, Hong Kong and ASEAN. Mr. Wang Dianchang, Executive Deputy Director of the Specialist Committee of China Ocean Development Institute, Former Director-General of Department of Policy, Law and Planning of State Oceanic Administration, gave his opinion on building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and sustainable development in coastal regions. Mr. Xu Ningning, Executive Director of China-ASEAN Business Council, said that upgrading China-ASEAN Free Trade Area is necessary for building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Ms. Nazha Benabbes Taarji-Aschenbrenner, Director of AIM Congress and Senior Advisor on Investment Promotion and Facilitation, gave suggestions on promoting economic investment.
 

Prof. Ge Jianxiong delivering a speech
 

Prof. Ge Jianxiong, Member of the Standing Committee of the 12th National Committee of the CPPCC, Counselor of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Professor of Historical Geography and History at Fudan University, pointed out that we should study the history of the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road and think about how to motivate our neighboring countries to participate in the “Road and Belt” initiative. Prof. Chen Chunsheng, Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President of SYSU, gave a speech on “Maritime Silk Road as a Cultural Symbol in Modern Times”. Prof. Dong Xiaolin, Former Vice President of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Prof. Lin Wenxun, President of Yunnan University, and Mr. Lv Yusheng, President of Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a speech respectively.
 

The launching of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Cross-Border E-Commerce Platform


Guangzhou BOFTEC & China-ASEAN Business Council MOU Exchange
 

The participants also witnessed the launching of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Cross-Border E-Commerce Platform as well as Guangzhou BOFTEC & China-ASEAN Business Council MOU Exchange.

Mr. Wang Weimin, Deputy Director of Counselors’ Office of the State Council, gave concluding remarks. He said that the forum has deepened our understanding of the significance and the work focus of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. He called on experts to conduct more research on the theoretical and practical issues related to the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.