The Belt and Road Global Chambers of Commerce and Associations Conference was held in Beijing on Monday, Oct 30.

Aiming to converge non-governmental resources of the Belt and Road and promote common development for chambers of commerce and associations, the conference was attended by governmental deputies, chambers presidents, heads of international organizations and scholars from over 60 countries and regions.

Under the guidance from the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and the Belt and Road Portal, the event was organized by People’s Daily Online and Global Times, hosted by Global Times Online and assisted by Zhejiang China Commodities City Group.

Editor-in-chief of People’s Daily Online Yu Qingchu said in his welcome speech that 2018 marks the fifth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the initiative has turned from vision to reality, providing a new platform for promoting world peace and joint development.

Editor-in-chief of People’s Daily Online Yu Qingchu gives a welcome speech. (Photo/Huanqiu.com)

He stressed that non-governmental organizations are a vital force for economic and social development, international cooperation and global governance. The event will offer comprehensive services in interconnectivity, service integration, program docking, and brand display, by hosting various activities and taking full advantage of the media.

The Belt and Road has been a key focus point for Global Times, introduced Xie Rongbin, deputy editor-in-chief of Global Times, adding that the newspaper has made a series of reports on Belt and Road projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Gwadar Port, and the China-Thailand high-speed railway.

He said the Belt and Road Global Chambers of Commerce and Associations Conference is a positive exploration to gather global social organizations, and will better facilitate the integrated development of Chinese chambers of commerce and associations and those from Belt and Road countries.

Xie Rongbin, deputy editor-in-chief of Global Times gives a speech. (Photo/Huanqiu.com)

Nearly 20 summits and seminars, as well as 60 keynote speeches, high-end dialogues and roundtables will be held during the event, covering multiple areas such as the digital economy, China’s new economy, international investment and trade, and synergetic development of chambers of commerce and associations.