Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Int'l Expo, an important economic event in Guangdong, kicked off today in the China Import and Export Complex in Guangzhou, bringing together some 900 companies from 51 countries and regions to exhibit products and explore cooperation.
The expo presents three professional exhibitions which feature the international life science industry, public health prevention and health & aged care industry, international agricultural products and the marine economy.
An International Culture and Tourism exhibition is also set up for embassies, consulates, cultural and tourism agencies, and companies to display the culture, tourism resources and special products of their countries to attract tourists and seek cooperation opportunities.
Zhang Xin, vice governor of Guangdong province, makes a speech at the opening ceremony.[Photo/MSRE]
"Since its establishment in 2004, the expo has been serving as a key platform for the exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and countries along the Belt and Road," Zhang Xin, vice governor of Guangdong province, said at the opening ceremony this morning.
"The pandemic has not severed the close economic ties between both sides. For the first 8 months of 2020, the trade volume between Guangzhou and Belt and Road countries has reached 164.47 billion yuan, and the actual investment of Belt and Road countries in Guangzhou has increased 70.9%," the vice governor added.
"China will uphold the principle of "extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits" and expand innovation-driven cooperation with Belt and Road countries," Lu Pengqi, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), said regarding future development.
James Kimonyo, ambassador of Rwanda to China, speaks at the opening ceremony. [Photo/MSRE]
James Kimonyo, ambassador of Rwanda to China, said he is happy to attend the expo which offers them an opportunity to showcase Rwandan culture and tourism and to attract potential investment. "We have a close business relation with Guangdong. Many Guangdong companies have investments in our country," Kimonyo said at the opening ceremony.
"Rwanda government has carried out a series of reforms which have made our business environment the best in East Africa. Rwanda is the safest country in the African continent. We have breathtaking view, a transparent government and rich natural resources. It's time for Chinese companies to take advantage of the reforms to invest in Rwanda," Kimonyo said, adding that he looks forward to strengthening partnership of both sides in e-commerce and cross-border trade.
Ma Xiaomei, general manager of a restaurant in Guangzhou, who is helping at the Rwandan pavilion at the expo, told SilkRoadPost that the African country has offered one-stop service to help Chinese companies to invest in Rwanda. "It takes only six hours to register a new company there," she said. "I have been doing business in Rwanda for twenty years. And now I am working to bring Rwandan coffee, pepper and other agricultural products to China."
A number of local enterprises, such as Qianxi Robot Group, Guangzhou Automobile Group and Xpeng Motors, have also displayed their innovative products at the expo to attract buyers.
Besides the exhibitions, four parallel forums focusing on exhibition, healthcare industries, industrial development along Belt and Road as well as scientific innovation have been scheduled during the three-day event, gathering officials, experts and scholars of relevant industries to exchange ideas and explore future development possibilities.
The expo is organized by CCPIT Guangdong Committee), Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou Municipal People's Government and China Foreign Trade Centre (CFTC), and will run through September 26.
