At the keynote speech delivered at the 8th Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum on May 15th, Weng Mengyong, Deputy Minister of Transport stated that to promote the Pan-Beibu Gulf economic cooperation, infrastructure is the bridge, industry development is the bond, and the policy of mutual benefit is the foundation. The cooperation mechanism is guaranteed. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with relevant countries on the Pan-Beibu Sea transportation and strive to open up the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
This year marks the 11th year of the strategic cooperation partnership between China and ASEAN, and it is also the third year that Pan-Beibu Gulf Cooperation has been included in the framework of China-ASEAN comprehensive cooperation. Weng Mengyong pointed out that China’s relations with the countries in the Pan-Beibu Gulf are standing at a new historical starting point. China is willing to build a maritime Silk Road with countries related to the Pan-Beibu Gulf, build a maritime cooperation zone extending from China to the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, promote mutual trust and mutual support among countries along the route, promote the establishment of economic partnership, and create new economic growth points. Accelerate economic recovery and development; promote good-neighborly friendship and create a harmonious and stable development environment.
Weng Mengyong made four suggestions on how to jointly promote the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
The first is to scientifically plan the construction of offshore interconnection facilities. To carry out systematic research and scientific planning on the cooperation direction, cooperation priorities, and co-construction mechanisms for maritime intercommunication facilities in ports, ports, logistics, and information facilities, and give priority to support the “China-ASEAN Harbor City Cooperation Network†and “China-ASEAN Maritime Transport "Package of research projects" and other key cooperation projects.
The second is to improve the level of maritime transport facilitation. Further strengthen multilateral and bilateral consultations. Under the inter-governmental maritime cooperation mechanism, we will actively encourage communication and cooperation among other levels, such as shipping industry associations and shipping companies; promote countries to simplify entry and exit procedures, promote "one-stop" customs clearance, and promote the Pan-Beiyang countries. People, goods, capital, etc., flow quickly and easily.
The third is to fully expand the field of maritime cooperation. We will focus on strengthening cooperation in safety areas such as navigation safety and maritime search and rescue; strengthen cooperation in energy conservation and emission reduction areas such as ship pollution control and research and development of clean ships; promote maritime technology exchange and training cooperation; and develop cooperation in maritime research education and human resource development.
The fourth is to further promote the development of international logistics. It will focus on strengthening port logistics cooperation, realizing industry integration and division of labor, promoting mutual trade and investment, vigorously developing coastal industries, accelerating the development of coastal cities, and forming a group of harbor groups, industrial clusters, and urban agglomerations that complement each other, promote each other, and have different characteristics. The formation of sub-regional economic cooperation under the framework of China-ASEAN economic cooperation will promote the development of the Pan-Beibu Gulf region as a new growth pole in the West Bank of the Pacific.
It is reported that ASEAN is an important economic and trade cooperation partner of China. Pan-Beibu Gulf related countries and China’s economic and trade cooperation account for more than 98% of China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation. As a basic, pioneering and service industry, maritime transport is an important support for the development of the Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Zone. In 2012, Ocean Shipping assumed 65% of the import and export volume between China and ASEAN. China and ASEAN countries have established the "China-ASEAN Minister of Communications Meeting Mechanism" and "China-ASEAN Maritime Consultation Mechanism" and signed a package of "Memorandum of Understanding on China-ASEAN Transport Cooperation" covering the air, sea and land areas, and the "China-ASEAN Maritime Agreement". And other important framework documents; China has also signed bilateral maritime and maritime cooperation documents with most pan-Beibei countries.