Chongqing Delegation Participated in the 11th China-ASEAN Folk Friendship Conference with Good Results

□ Articles/Pictures Liu Huili

Chongqing Delegation Participated in the 11th China-ASEAN Folk Friendship Conference with Good Results

□ Articles/Pictures Liu Huili

On August 5 to 9, Chongqing Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries organized Chongqing delegation to Siem Reap,Cambodia to participate in the 11th China-ASEAN Folk Friendship Conference, and made extensive exchanges and also achieved good results.

The conference hosted by the Cambodian-China Friendship Association, with the theme of"Strengthening People's Minds and Maintaining Peaceful Cooperation", focused on issues such as the mutual respond of China and ASEAN to the Belt and Road Initiative, youth friendship and cooperation,urban planning and development, tourism industry development, and passed the Siem Reap Declaration.Gu Xiulian, Chairman of the China-ASEAN Friendship Association, Hor Nam Hong, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, Ek Sam Ol, Chairman of the Cambodian-China Friendship Association, and about 600 delegates from China and ASEAN countries attended the meeting.

The delegation of Chongqing attended the opening ceremony of the conference, the summit forum, the parallel sub forum and other main activities, and conducted international exchanges relying on the platform of the conference. Zhou Zhigang, head of the delegation and director of the Office of the Foreign Friendship Association, Jing Kaiyuan, director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Jiulongpo District in Chongqing, spoke on the sub-forum ofcommon response to the Belt and Road. Li Xin,director of the Supervision Of fi ce of Jiangjin District Government, spoke on the promotion of China-ASEAN tourism development forum. The delegation visited Ek Sam Ol, Cambodian-Chinese Friendship Association President, Tang Kun, Vice Chairman,Zhou Boda, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian-China Association for Economic, Social and Cultural Cooperation, Davina, Chairman of the Philippines-China Exchange Association, Dr. Chen Jiafu, Vice President of Brunei China Friendship Association Executive, Huang Huanming, Chairman of Jianhua Daily, and other senior members of the ASEANChina Friendship Association, and accepted the interview of ASEAN TV.

The conference expanded and deepened exchanges and cooperation between local governments and social organizations in Chongqing and ASEAN countries, and achieved good results.First, we set up a platform for friendship and cooperation. During the conference, Chongqing Foreign Friendship Association deepened its communication with the friendly organization who had cooperation willingness, and signed a friendly exchange agreement with Cambodia-China Friendship Association and Myanmar-China Friendship Association respectively, and reached a friendly exchange intention with the Indonesian-China Friendship Association, thus, made a solid step forward to further promote friendly exchanges and cooperation between Chongqing and ASEAN countries. Second, we actively participate in the the Belt and Road Initiative combined with the actual facts of Chongqing. The delegation carried out extensive communication and negotiations around the Belt and Road and the city development needs on promoting the spirit of the Silk Road, carrying out intellectual and healthy Silk Road construction,and reached a preliminary intention in areas such as education, science and technology, culture,health, civil exchanges and other fi elds with ASEAN countries as well as local government and social organizations. Third, we should spread the stories of Chongqing and broaden our circle of friends. During the visit, the delegation gave a detailed introduction about Chongqing and its strategic advantages, the development achievements, cooperation intentions,and highlighted the investment environment and preferential policies of Chongqing and the related districts and counties. They also promoted the charming Chongqing, through publicity, interactive exchanges, media interviews and other forms of publicity, strengthening and broadening the channels and fields for the project cooperation with ASEAN countries. The delegation discussed with ASEAN about plans to promote cooperation between the friendship cities and communicated about how to bring Chongqing enterprises to the world for exchanges.

（Author's Unit: Coordination of fi ce of Foreign and Overseas Affairs Of fi ce of Chongqing Municipal People's Government）