2016 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo Closed with Record High Cooperation between Guangdong and Countries along the Belt and Road

          On October 30th, 2016 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo closed successfully with economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and countries along the Belt and Road reaching record high. According to the Organizing Committee, 700 projects were contracted at the Expo with a total volume of about 206.8 billion yuan, increasing 2.5% compared to last year.

          It is reported that on the basis of the two successful Expos in past years, Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo has won rising reputation around the globe and enhanced brand effect. This year the Expo attracted 73 countries (regions) in the event and 52 countries (regions) for exhibition, among which 39 countries (regions) built independent pavilions, the numbers all increasing compared to last year.

          Guangdong is one of the starting points of China's ancient Maritime Silk Road and also a pioneer in the country's reform and opening up. These years, Guangdong focuses on the goal of building the province into an important pivotal and center of economic and trade cooperation along the Belt and Road as bestowed by the state, exploring cooperation comprehensively with countries along the Belt and Road in fields including connectivity, economic and trade investment, production capacity cooperation, technological innovation and friendly exchanges.

          Production capacity cooperation and innovative development are positioned as major areas in the Belt and Road Initiative. According to the forum of the Expo, in recent years, Guangdong has been strengthening its efforts in promoting international production capacity cooperation. Guangdong Silk Road Fund has been established with a first phase scale of 20 billion yuan to work with related countries in construction of Huajian Industrial Park in Kenya, Qeshm Free Zone of Iran, Melaka Gateway in Malaysia, China-Gizan Industrial Park in Saudi Arabia, China-Belarus Industrial Park, etc.. Famed Guangdong enterprises such as Huawei, ZTE, Midea and TCL keep going abroad to countries along the Belt and Road to invest and develop.

          It is reported that in 2015 enterprises of Guangdong invested 480 million dollars in real term to 14 key countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road with an increase of 56%. In the first 9 months of 2016, Guangdong's actual investment to these 14 countries reached 490 million dollars, rising 103.6% year on year, which fully embodies the sound basis and huge potential of production capacity cooperation between Guangdong and countries along the Belt and Road.