To seek further expand economy and trade ties between China and ASEAN.
China's Belt and Road initiative, highlighted during President Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam and Singapore last week, is set to boost bilateral ties and facilitate trade and investment between China and Southeast Asian nations.
The ancient maritime silk road once facilitated trade and cultural exchange between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors. Hopes are high that its successor, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, will inject new impetus into regional development.
The forum was attended by government officials, experts, scholars, and business people from the ten ASEAN countries, as well as representatives of Hong Kong’s business community and related experts and scholars from the mainland of China.
ChinesePremierLiKeqiangsaidhereThursdaythatChinaandSoutheastAsiancountrieswillupgradetheirpartnershipintheupcomingdiamonddecade,whichwouldbringmorebenefitstotheirpeoplesandmakefurthercontributiontoregionalandworldpeaceanddevelopment. LiandP