Representatives from Mainland China, Kenya, Laos and Africa shared their gains from the forum.
Jointly hosted by China International Contractors Association and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce of PRC, the Secretariat for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR Government and the Liaison Office of the Chinese Central Government in the Macao SAR, the 7th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (7th IIICF), which lasted for two days in Macao, was successfully concluded today (June 3rd). More than 1,400 participants from 60 countries and regions attended the forum, which arranged 14 cooperation agreements and cooperation memoranda, building an international ‘Going Out’ platform for enterprises from Mainland China and Macao. The host parties of this forum jointly held a press conference on the closing day of IIICF. Fang Qiuchen, the president of China International Contractors Association and Jackson Chang, the president of IPIM, gave a general description as well as on the effectiveness of this year’s forum. Counselor from the Department of American and Oceania Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of China, James Wainaina Macharia, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Kenya, Viraphonh Viravong, the Vice Minister of Energy and Mining of Laos, Xu Yingzhen, and Denys Denya, executive vice president of the African Export-Import Bank, shared the achievements as the participating units respectively. 8,000 Elites from more than 100 countries and regions involved in the 7th IIICF Jackson Chang, the president of IPIM pointed out that IIICF continuously promoted the fusion of regional economy as well as the development of the related industries in Macao, it strengthened the cooperation with fraternal provinces and regions in the Pan-PRD and further highlighted the important function of Macao as a service platform for trade and economic cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. He stressed that there were totally about 8,000 industry representatives and experts from over 100 countries and regions that participated in the 7 consecutive forums. During the signing ceremony this year, a total number of 14 cooperation agreements and memoranda were signed among China and foreign countries; Macao enterprises and business associations also reached agreements with relevant units at home and abroad. Furthermore, over 120 representatives of Pan-PRD 9+2 Region attended the forum, enhancing the joint communication and discussion of cooperation opportunities among Pan-PRD enterprises, countries along “The Belt and Road” and enterprises from Portuguese-speaking countries. More than 1,400 participants setting a new record of size in this year’s forum Fang Qiuchen, the president of China International Contractors Association, said that four enhancements were achieved in this year’s forum, regarding the aspects of forum’s International influence, function of International platform, the capability to drive developments of infrastructure and related industries as well as participation from Macao industries. He pointed out that the size of the forum, the participation scope and the status of participants and guests were all enhanced in this year’s forum. The forum this year attracted more than 1,400 participants, among which there were 65 groups/delegations at home and abroad and 48 groups/delegations from International organizations, industrial associations and Chinese provincial and municipal commerce departments; the attendees represented over 600 enterprises in more than 60 countries and regions, covering both the upstream and downstream chain of the infrastructure industry; nearly 50 above vice-ministerial level guests from over 30 countries and regions as well as senior executives from over 50 World Top 500 enterprises attended the forum this year. Multiple channels to help enterprises ‘going global’ This year’s forum held 37 special themed events including themed forums, parallel forums, business recommending and matchmaking events and round table dialogue sessions. More than 140 business meetings took place, and 14 cooperation agreements were signed, such as projects for the construction of highways in Madagascar, affordable housing estates in Mozambique, housing reconstruction project in Ecuador and more. An international platform was built for the ‘Going Global’ of enterprises from Mainland China and Macao. Highlighting the advantage of Macao as the economic cooperation platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries The Monetary Authority of Macao and the Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macao became the co-organizers for the first time. 6 local co-organizers jointly worked together, covering economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries, Macao industry and commerce, financial service industry, construction industry and so on. During the parallel session, a high-level seminar on “China-Portuguese speaking countries financial and international industrial capacity cooperation” was held, Ministers of infrastructure from Portuguese-speaking countries and senior executives from international financial institutions and contractor corporations were invited to the seminar and they had a thorough discussion on strengthening bilateral financial and industrial capacity cooperation. Representatives of Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau attended the forum, which gave full play to the function of Macao as the economic and trade service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Seeking common development in infrastructure with 15 Latin American and Caribbean countries Xu Yingzhen, from the Department of American and Oceania Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of China, said during the conference that the Second Edition of China-LAC Infrastructure Cooperation Forum had attracted 11 officials of ministerial or higher rank from 15 Latin American and Caribbean countries. The representatives from various sectors communicated in depth on how to be better complementary to one another and achieve common development in infrastructure and capacity cooperation; the representatives also shared information regarding the recent infrastructure plans and projects aligned with the rules of the China-Latin America Cooperation Fund and Chinese credit insurance policies toward Latin America. Countries along “The Belt and Road” had a rich harvest during the Forum Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Kenya, James Wainaina Macharia, and Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Laos, Viraphonh Viravong, respectively shared their gains from this forum and their cooperation with China in infrastructure. The Executive Vice-President of African Import and Export Bank, Denys Denya, introduced the work of international financial institutions on promoting the collaboration of industry and finance and reinforcing financial innovation. In addition, he expressed high recognition for the huge impact that the forum had presented on boosting international infrastructure cooperation. The 8th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum will be held in Macao on 1-2 June 2017.
