The Press Conference of the 9th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum is held today (4 June)
The 9th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF), guided by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao S.A.R, and jointly organised by the China International Contractors Association and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, will be held at the Venetian Macao from 7 to 8 June. More than 1,500 politicians, businessmen and academics from more than 60 countries and regions, including more than 50 government officials at the ministerial level or above from over 30 countries/regions will be joining the two-day event. The event is highly regarded and well received by the international enterprises and local industry. During this period, there will be many forums, business discussions, exhibitions and different activities, which will help enterprises to participate in and grasp the opportunities arising from the economic and trade co-operation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and the Belt and Road Initiative.
The press conference of the 9th IIICF was held in Macao today (4 June). Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Sam Lei, and Vice President of the China International Contractors Association Yu Xiaohong introduced relevant preparations.
According to Sam Lei, the 9th IIICF takes “Fostering New Divers of Development to Boost Infrastructure Construction and Connectivity” as its theme, and discusses how to, in the international context where new drivers of development are replacing the old ones, cultivate infrastructure development and international co-operation through innovation, technological changes, and mode transformation to promote the connectivity among the Belt and Road countries . He pointed out that Macao elements will be further highlighted at the 9th IIICF.
In addition to 13 institutions from the government, industrial and commercial sectors, overseas Chinese associations, financial and construction industries of Macao will be serving as co-organisers. During the event, a networking breakfast for Macao and Mainland enterprises will be arranged to enhance the connection between Macao and Mainland enterprises, and to help them seize the opportunities arising from the Belt and Road infrastructure projects. At the same time, the parallel panel on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, and the Seminar on the Infrastructure Construction between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries will be held. After the forum and exhibition, the organisers will organise delegation to have inspection of the Belt and Road infrastructure projects in Macao and the Mainland to maximise the efficacy of the 9th IIICF. He believed that with strong support and joint efforts of all parties, the function of International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum as an important platform for Macao's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative will be further enhanced this year, and the development of Macao's being the financial service platform and featured finance industry will be promoted in the meantime.
Yu Xiaohong said that a panel session, 2 thematic forums, and 11 parallel panels and other activities will be held at the 9th IIICF, and the 4th China-LAC Infrastructure Cooperation Forum hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China will also be held concurrently. During the event, the Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index (2018) and the Annual Report on Development of “the Belt and Road” Construction (2018), known as the barometer of the infrastructure in countries along the “Belt and Road”, will be released to provide China and the countries along the “Belt and Road” with statistical information and future prospect related to the development of infrastructure and business co-operation.
Over the past eight editions of International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, the breadth and depth of the forum topics and the level of participants have been continuously improved. Statistics show that more than 1,000 Chinese and foreign heavyweight speakers were invited and more than 10,000 guests from 60 countries and regions had joined this forum, including 191ministerial-level officials in charge of infrastructure. More than 110 forums and special events were held, over 560 business meetings were arranged and a total of 54 co-operation agreements (contracts) were signed, covering hydropower, roads, railways, airports, ports, housing and other infrastructure projects. At present, some projects are being implemented with satisfying progress.