On 14 November 2019, the 2019 China (Chengdu) International Supply and Smart Logistics Expo was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Mme. Huo Yuzhen, Special Representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry for China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Cooperation, Mme. Liao Chengzhen, Deputy Secretary-General of Chengdu Municipal People's Government, Mr. Gennady Bessonov, Secretary-General of Coordinating Council on Trans-Siberian Transportation (CCTT), Mr. Wijit Nimitrwanich, Deputy Director General of Department of Transport Information of the Ministry of Transport of Thailand, and Mr. Guo Chuanwei, Director of Trade and Investment Division of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), attended the opening ceremony and made remarks. About 200 representatives from China Air Transport Association, China Civil Airports Association, China Highway and Transportation Society and Chengdu Municipal Government as well as the participating countries attended the event.
Mme. Huo Yuzhen pointed out that connectivity is the priority of BRI international cooperation. It is also an important part of China's efforts in opening up and deepening investment and trade relations with Central and Eastern European countries. All parties should deepen cooperation in cutting-edge fields including intelligent manufacturing and digital economy, promote innovation-driven development, improve trade and investment facilitation, and implement more projects to improve people's lives. All in all, the goal is to achieve all-round connectivity that produces multiplying effects in infrastructure development, industrial clustering, economic growth and people’s well-being.
Mme. Huo Yuzhen pointed out that connectivity is the priority of BRI international cooperation. It is also an important part of China's efforts in opening up and deepening investment and trade relations with Central and Eastern European countries. All parties should deepen cooperation in cutting-edge fields including intelligent manufacturing and digital economy, promote innovation-driven development, improve trade and investment facilitation, and implement more projects to improve people's lives. All in all, the goal is to achieve all-round connectivity that produces multiplying effects in infrastructure development, industrial clustering, economic growth and people’s well-being.
Mr. Wijit Nimitrwanich said that the building of Thailand-China Railway is regarded by both countries as an important part of their strategic cooperation. Thailand will step up investment and trade cooperation with China, accelerate the construction of border railway centre, and actively build a regional transportation hub.
Mr. Guo Chuanwei said that ASEAN-China connectivity has seen significant breakthroughs with remarkable progress in a number of practical cooperation projects. The 22nd ASEAN-China Summit reached important consensus on synergizing MPAC 2025 and the BRI, injecting new impetus into building a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future and a higher level of regional cooperation in East Asia.
The Expo is organized by Beijing North Star Events with an exhibition area of 23,000 square meters. With the theme of “the BRI and Multimodal Transport”, the Expo focused on China Railway Express to Europe, smart logistics, trans-European and Asian transportation, international air cargo, cross-border e-commerce and international business, providing an international platform for offline communication and precise business matching. Famous supply chain, cross-border e-commerce and logistics technology and equipment enterprises from China, Central Asia, Central and Eastern European countries as well as main logistics nodes including Germany and the Netherlands attended the exhibition. The Pan-Eurasian Commodity Trade Exhibition was set up and attracted participants from Thailand, Poland and Greece among other countries along the BRI route. During the Expo, 8 forums were held simultaneously, including the 3rd Asia-Europe International Transport and Logistics Cooperation Forum and the Asia-Chengdu-Europe International Commerce and Cooperation Seminar.