The 4th China(Guangdong)-ASEAN Strategic Cooperation Forum Opens in Guangzhou for Promoting Cooperation between Guangdong and Indonesia

On November 19th, 2013, the opening Ceremony for the 4th China (Guangdong)- ASEAN Strategic Cooperation Forum, the Indonesia-Guangdong Forum on Trade, and Tourism and Investment Promotion was held at the Hilton hotel in Guangzhou. The conference was aimed at promoting development of more enterprises in Guangdong Province to "go ASEAN" and to deepen the communications and cooperation ties between Guangdong Province and Indonesia.

The Ambassador from Indonesia to China, H.E. Mr. Imron Cotan; Consul-General of Indonesia in Guangzhou and his colleague, Mr. Anak Agung Gde Alit Santhika and President of GDUFS and Deputy Director of Guangdong Research Institute for International Strategies, ZHONG Weihe, and Deputy General Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Ms. SU Caifang; Head of the Regional Promotion Facility of Investment Coordinating Board of Indonesial Ms. Aloysia Endang Wahyuningsih, Deputy General Director of the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province; Mr. ZHENG Jianrong; Professor and Reseacher for the Guangdong Research Institute for International Strategies and Mr. CHEN Wanling, along with the representatives from East Java and Rembang of Indonesia, and representatives of many sectors of relevant departments of the Guangdong Provincial Government, all greeted the media and attended the ceremony. Director of the Coordinating Department of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Mr. LI Yuanlin, presided over the ceremony. 

The Consul-General of Indonesia in Guangzhou, Mr. Anak Agung Gde Alit Santhika, gave the welcoming speech. He said that this conference was another important event for advancing the friendship between our two countries after President XI Jinping's visit to Indonesia last October. 

He recounted many significant processes of the bilateral cooperation agreement made by our people and he believed that the prospect for full and positive communication and cooperation between Guangdong Province and Indonesia would be bright and that there would be a increasing number of opportunities to enhance friendly relations.

Mr. Anak Agung Gde Alit Santhika presenting his welcoming remarks

President of GDUFS and Deputy Director of the Guangdong Research Institute for International Strategies, President ZHONG Weihe, extended his greetings to all the guests and representatives present. In his remarks, he talked about the development of the economic cooperation between Asian countries and ASEAN, and also detailed the relationship between China and Indonesia as well as the multi-sector and in-depth cooperation agreements. President ZHONG emphasized the significance of GDUFS and the Research Institute as related to the mutual cooperation, mentioning that GDUFS was the principal partner for carrying out teaching and research of the Indonesian language. Too, he noted that the relationship has trained tremendous numbers of international talents to boost trade exchanges between our two countries. Moreover, as an independent think tank, the Institute has completed many projects related to ASEAN countries and has published the ASEAN Series, publications that detail mutual accomplishments. In one word, GDUFS and the Institute are willing and able to provide intellectual support for the economic and trade exchanges between Guangdong Province and Indonesia. President ZHONG hoped there would be a continuing friendship and more opportunities for all-around cooperation between China and Indonesia on the basis of mutual respect and understanding.

ZHONG Weihe addressing those at the ceremony

In the final moments of the conference, the Ambassador from Indonesia to China, H.E. Mr. Imron Cotan, presented an address. He stressed that, this being an opportunity for Guangdong and Indonesia to strengthen their cooperation, the conference was of great significance. He pointed out that the partnership between our two countries could be scaled to a higher level with frequent high-level mutual visits that would further deepen economic and trade cooperation ties and provide the means for constant improvements in cooperation mechanisms. He mentioned that the bilateral trade volume of our two countries has reached 66 Billion US Dollars last year and that the new goal set by President XI Jinping and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia, is that the total trade volume would achieve 80 Billions by 2015. Since there is a wide prospect for trade communications between the two countries, he called for more investments and the governmental support for the investors.

H.E. Mr. Imron Cotan voicing expectations for further collaborations

After the ceremony, Indonesia held promotions for fishing, mining and tourism industries to attract more investment. Representatives from these industries and enterprises attended the promotion.