Port City Development and Cooperation Forum held at Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center

the meeting

On the afternoon of October 30th 2015, Port City Development and Cooperation Forum was held at Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center from 17:00 to 18:30, sponsored by the Committee of 2015 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo, and organized by the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality. This Forum was centered on dialogues among several mayors discussing the development and cooperation among 58 5port cities alongside the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

ZHONG Weihe

ZHONG Weihe, President of GDUFS, Vice President of Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, was the host for the Forum. He stated that the establishment of the Maritime Silk Road would have a profound influence on multilateral cooperation among different countries and districts, providing a continuously expanding market for all parties involved. Also, he expressed that the students of GDUFS would undoubtedly be the main force to support this program by utilizing their intellects.

CHEN Jianhua

The first speech was given by CHEN Jianhua, Mayor of Guangzhou Municipal Government. CHEN introduced that it was essential for the port city to enhance interconnection for mutual benefit and win-win development. “As one of the pioneers of the reform and opening-up policy, I think Guangzhou should set a good example and pay more attention to developing its port economy in the long run. And in order to build a new cooperative relationship with other port cities, there is also a need for Guangzhou to expand its costal ports, strengthen connection and stimulate technical innovation”, said CHEN.

Guests at present

Mohommad Mazammil, Mayor of Colombo, Sri Lanka, emphasized the importance of connections among the ports. “Due to Colombo’s large harbor and its strategic position along the trade routes, I believe it could accelerate the development of the Maritime Silk Road. And I hope through such cooperation, all port cities can share the marine resources and develop prosperously”, he said.

Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Mayor of Karachi, Pakistan, believed that the port city should maintain self-improvement by absorbing others’ good examples in order to advance the regional trade.

And the other guests present including Hassan Ali Joho, Governor of Mombasa, Kenya; YB.DATUK Lim Ban Hong, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Malacca; Robyn Kemmis, Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney; Hang Tian, Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Holdings Company Limited; Hens Eskelund, President of Maersk China Company Limited, all expressed their different opinions and sincere expectations to cooperate with other coastal cities.

The last part was the Q & A. The audience had a good time communicating with the guests.