Distinguished diplomatic envoys,

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Good Afternoon! It’s my pleasure to attend the 3rd China-South Asia Cooperation Forum together with all the guests. On behalf of he People’s Government of Yunnan Province, I would like to extend a sincere welcome to you all, and hearty appreciation to those who have been supporting the regional exchanges and cooperation between Yunnan and South Asian countries.

In October, 2022, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has just concluded its 20th National Congress. President Xi Jinping emphasized that China is committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up. China acts on the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendships and partnerships with its neighbors. It strives to enhance friendly ties, mutual trust, and converging interests with its neighboring countries and to contribute its share to building an open global economy that delivers greater benefits to all peoples. President Xi Jinping has had several exchange visits with South

Asian state leaders to renew friendship and draw the blueprint for cooperation, which elevated the friendship across the Himalayas to a new height.

Yunnan is geographically connected with South Asian countries, serving as the forefront and window of China-South Asia exchanges. As early as 2,000 years ago, the Southern Silk Road and the Ancient Tea Horse Road passing Yunnan was China’s earliest links to South Asian countries. More than 600 years ago, the seven voyages of Zheng He, a Yunnan-born navigator, created a monumental chapter of friendship and interaction between ancient China and South Asia countries. Taking the opportunities of promoting high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation, Yunnan has accelerated the construction of the China’s powerhouse of opening up to South and Southeast Asian countries and expanded exchanges and cooperation with South Asian countries. In the past ten years, we tripled the total trade volume, created six pairs of sister-cities, and opened air routes covering the capitals and key tourist cities with South Asian countries. The China-South Asia Technology Transfer Center has facilitated more than 80 international projects, and more than 2,000 South Asian students are currently studying in Yunnan.

Ladies and gentlemen! Affinity grows as exchange of visits increases. We sincerely hope to take this forum as an opportunity to deepen understanding, enhance mutual trust, further exchanges and cooperation, and expand common interests, so as to add new momentum to the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and South Asian and Indian Ocean Rim countries. I would like to take this opportunity to make four suggestions.

First, let the mechanism platforms play a bigger role. Give a fuller play to the China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Regional Cooperation Forum, and other cooperation platforms including mechanisms with India, Bangladesh and Maldives, attracting more participation from the political, business and academic circles, continuously enhancing the Forum’s momentum and influence, and creating a model of cooperation between China and South Asian countries. We hope that all parties will jointly promote the establishment of the international secretariat, liaison offices and other entities of China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, to establish closer communication channels and facilitate the implementation of our consensus reached.

Second, deepen trade and investment cooperation. We hope that all parties will actively promote the construction of the international corridors. Let’s connect the Asian Highway Network and Trans-Asian Railway effectively, expand multi-model transport routes, and jointly build a logistics circle cross land and sea. We need to take advantage of our respective comparative advantages to expand trade and investment in agriculture, tourism, bio-medicine, digital economy, etc., and explore the new model of “cross-border e-commerce + financial cooperation”, to accelerate the integration of regional industrial chains, supply chains and value chains.

Third, to deliver more quality projects. We hope that all parties will continue to plan a number of bilateral or multilateral projects in the fields of economy and trade, poverty alleviation and people-to-people exchanges, build a cooperation project database and improve project financing through Asian Cooperation Fund and other channels, to strengthen financial support for cooperation. Yunnan is willing to cooperate with all parties in agricultural technology, medical and health care, vocational skills and other areas of training, and jointly create a number of regular and branded projects.

Fourth, continue to promote exchanges and mutual understanding. Yunnan is willing to build joint laboratories, science and technology parks with all parties, support young scientists to conduct scientific research in Yunnan, and increase cooperation in areas such as technology transfer and knowledge sharing, green and low-carbon transformation, and the application of “new infrastructure”. Yunnan is willing to carry out various forms of friendly exchanges in the fields of youth, women, sports, think tanks and media, etc. Yunnan will increase the number of annual provincial government scholarships from 50 to 100 to encourage more teachers and students to visit Yunnan for exchange and study.

Ladies and gentlemen! South Asian and the Indian Ocean Rim countries have great development potential, and it is the common desire of all parties to maintain regional peace and stability and promote common prosperity and development. We are willing to contribute to the all-round international cooperation, help the Global Development Initiative to be delivered in South Asian countries, and promote the region to achieve stronger, greener and healthier development. Let Yunnan, South Asia and Indian Ocean Rim to exploit its full potential and bring the best out of each other.

Finally, wish the Forum a fruitful success and wish all the guests good health and success in your career. Thanks!