The influence of “One Belt and One Road” is increasing in the world. Many local governments are collecting information through all channels to integrate “One Belt and One Road” positively and hope to search for development opportunities. But it is a rare case to view “One Belt and One Road” from the perspective of media, especially a media interview briefing held by governor.

　　"Today we will hold a special meeting”. This was the opening remarks of Governor Wei Hong’s speech to introduce the meeting held on the morning of May 15th by Sichuan Provincial People’s Government.

　　What was special was the protagonists. On the day, Mr. Wei Hong, governor of Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, gathered responsible vice governors and responsible officials from provincial relevant departments to listen to 12 interview groups from Sichuan Daily Group about the interviewing and reports of “One Belt and One Road” and “Going Globally” of Sichuan enterprises. 

　　Observers held the view that this meeting reflected that the Sichuan's implementation of “One Belt and One Road” strategy was accelerating the process from theory to operation level. It was believed that the two reports launched by Sichuan Daily Group in April, namely Seeing the World: Interviewing Overseas New Sichuan Entrepreneurs and Flowers of the Silk Road•Sichuan’s Opportunities in One Belt and One Road. First-hand information from over 20 countries was quite targeted to the formation of the following policies and measures and driven the attention from the decision-makers.

　　Such a guess was confirmed on the meeting. Mr. Wei Hong said that Sichuan Daily Group had worked closely surrounding the central topics of Sichuan Provincial Committee of the CPC and Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, serviced the overall development situation, organized the interviews concerning “One Belt and One Road” and “Going Globally” of Sichuan Enterprises. Journalists from Sichuan Daily and Western China City Daily visited over 20 countries and provided a lot of useful information from special perspective for the government to implement “One Belt and One Road” strategy, which helped Sichuan to grasp “One Belt and One Road” strategic opportunities.

　　Governor praised high quality reports

　　The meeting was held at Conference Room 418 of No. 2 Building of Sichuan Provincial People's Government. But due to large number of attendance, many seats were set up temporarily.
　
　　High level of present government departments

　　Apart from governor Wei Hong, responsible vice governor Gan Lin, responsible officials from 25 provincial departments, including Sichuan Development and Reform Commission, Sichuan Provincial Economic and Information Commission, Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, Finance Department of Sichuan Province, Transport Department of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial Agricultural Department, and Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce and so on.

　　What information was so important that so many departments were involved in the meeting?
　
　　It should be started from two large reports planned and released by Sichuan Daily and Western China City Daily.

　　In March, Sichuan Daily initiated “Seeing the World• Interviewing Overseas New Sichuan Entrepreneurs”, a large  cross-border interview and report. 4 groups of journalists visited 20 cities in 7 countries, ranging from Czech, Poland, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, America, to Canada. Western China City Daily also planned and released “Flowers of the Silk Road•Sichuan’s Opportunities in One Belt and One Road”, a large series of reports. 8 groups of reporters visited and reported 26 countries along “One Belt and One Road”. Therefore, after months of interviewing, 12 groups of reporters interviewed responsible persons from dozens of Sichuan enterprises and several hundred leading figures in politics and business. Over a hundred of newspaper sheets and reports of several hundred thousand words were printed on Sichuan Daily and Western China City Daily. Meanwhile, these reports were also be accessed on new media. It was estimated that the overall reading number might overpass 400 million. These reports had triggered tremendous social repercussions. 
 
　　Governor Graded for the quality of these reports

　　The Governor said that he was gratitude towards Sichuan Daily Group, and journalists from Sichuan Daily and Western China City Daily. We had a better understanding of the expectations and emphasis of governments and companies along “One Belt and One Road” and the cooperation foundations and potentials with Sichuan through your numerous reports. Such information from the government system was of significance to us.

　　Responsible persons from Sichuan Daily and Western China City Daily introduced the comprehensive situation of planning and implementing these reports respectively. Representatives from 4 reporter groups of Sichuan Daily and 8 groups of Western China City Daily told their own understanding of challenges, spaces and opportunities of Sichuan to integrate into “One Belt and One Road” with a combination of their own personal experiences. They also offered some suggestions. The addressing time for every addresser was strictly limited within 10 minutes. The whole meeting lasted approximately 3 hours.

　　A journalist from Sichuan Daily Group present at the meeting indicated that Governor and directors from provincial departments all listened very carefully. They also took notes while listening. Besides, they also discussed with journalists about some details. It seems that they did not want to end the meeting. Governor particularly requested relevant provincial departments organize the important information brought by reporters, communicate and dock with them after the meeting, and provide targeted solutions for the problems from the reports. He also hoped that reporters could continue to organize and find more helpful information and deliver it to Sichuan Provincial People's Government and relevant departments.

　　Impressive moments between Governor and Journalists

　　"Besides introducing, you can ask questions to governance officials present here. Of course, when you are speaking, we can interrupt and ask questions.” Governor set a role for the meeting.

　　During the meeting there were frequent interacts between Governor and journalists. Reporters from Observation from Sichuan Daily seized several impressive moments for you.

　　How was the safety situation in Myanmar?

　　When Myanmar Reporter Group from Sichuan Daily delivered their speech, they mentioned a datum, namely, by now, Sichuan enterprises in Myanmar accounting only 4% of Chinese enterprises.

　　"What is the source of this datum?” Governor asked immediately.

　　"It is provided by the Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office of the Embassy of the People's Republic Pfizer China in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.”

　　Governor nodded and marked with red pen on the materials.

　　When journalists reported the market opportunities and potential of Myanmar, Governor asked again, “What is the influence of current Myanmar situation on the investment of Sichuan enterprises?”

　　Reporters answered their own intuitive feelings. “Through our interview, we find that the real situation is quite different from what we have think. Those bosses of Sichuan enterprises interviewed all thought that the safety of Myanmar is quite good. We should improve our authentic understanding to these countries, provide enterprises with timely and accurate information for them to judge, or organize more entrepreneurs to visit these places. We should not miss wonderful opportunities due to partial gossips.”

　　Cultural conflicts caused by “Hongbao” (money contained in a red paper bag as a gift)

　　America and Canada Reporter Group from Sichuan Daily told a story. Boss from American Meizhou Dongpo Restaurant invited his staff to have dinner together and then gave them Hongbao. Unfortunately these Hongbaos had caused some embellishments. On the following day several American workers resigned.

　　Governor was quite interested in this story and asked the hidden reason.

　　These American workers thought that having union dinner had occupied their spare time. They could complain about the compulsory increasing of working hours. While these Hongbaos were related with taxation, which could cause many unnecessary troubles.

　　Governor concluded that this case had interpreted vividly the differences between Chinese and American cultures.

　　Was it true that there were so many foreigners learning Chinese?

　　Egypt Reporter Group from Western China City Daily mentioned that the Egypt youth were quite yearning for China and currently Chinese Major was a popular major at universities of Egypt. Students learning Chinese were several times of those learning English.

　　Governor then marked on the reporting materials and conformed to the journalists present, “Was it true that there were so many foreigners learning Chinese?”

　　Reporters explained that Egypt and China were two ancient civilization countries and Egypt youth thought that China had achieved remarkable development achievements. They wanted to study why China could obtain such tremendous achievements. While language was the first gate to learn a country.

　　Where were products made in Sichuan sold?

　　Middle East Reporter Group from Western China City Group mentioned that at the largest mall in Dubai, products made in Sichuan were nowhere to be found.

　　Governor replied humorously, “Are you sure you go to the right place?”

　　Everyone burst out laughing. Governor asked the responsible official from Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce about the current trade situation between Sichuan and Dubai. The responsible person added that there were some trade and economic exchanges, but the number was not impressive. Some Sichuan advantageous industries also invested in Dubai. It was not in scale. There was huge space.

　　Some suggestions from the reporters drawing the attention of leaders from provincial departments present

　　Sichuan Daily

　　Myanmar and Vietnam Reporter Group advised promoting the development of group enterprises and accelerating the process of establishing Sichuan Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and Myanmar.

　　Singapore Reporter Group suggested that Sichuan enterprises could search for more cooperation channels and modes in accordance with industrial transformation and upgrading except traditional financing, indirect trade and headquarter economy and so on.

　　Since there were over 60 countries involved in “One Belt and One Road” and for a single company, the cost in adapting different rules and breaking system obstacles might overpass trade and economic cooperation, Czech and Poland Reporter Group suggested that the government could specify the directions of “One Belt and One Road”, formulate specific plans and strategies for different countries, cooperate with professional agencies, work out Investment Direction for Different Nations, and deduce the time and cost for enterprises to adapt local markets.

　　America and Canada Reporter Group suggested that in the future Sichuan enterprises could invest manufacturing, tourism, energy serving industry in North America.

　　Western China City Daily

　　Europe Reporter Group advised accelerating the integrating development between cross-border electronics and Chengdu-Europe Express Rail, solving the cargo problems of Chengdu-Europe Express Rail, and making Sichuan become the national center of cross-border electronic.

　　Australia Reporter Group suggested that the attitude of government should change from supervision to serving, provide specified services for enterprises, such as formulating investment direction of international purchasing. Apart from field research, the government could also enlist leading enterprises as the main characters of formulating investment direction. The government could also hold some practical seminars and CEO gathering to share their own opinions about overseas weekly salary system.

　　ASEAN Reporter Group advised to build express channels between Sichuan and Kunming Customs, and accelerate the efficiency of customs through handling with all the procedures needed.

　　Governor: There were 4 aspects of enlightenment of the reports to government departments

　　Governor held the view that the important information released in the two reports, namely Seeing the World: Interviewing Overseas New Sichuan Entrepreneurs and Flowers of the Silk Road•Sichuan’s Opportunities in One Belt and One Road, could enlighten the government departments in 4 aspects.
 Firstly, to integrate “One Belt and One Road” strategy, Sichuan must further strengthen the interconnection of infrastructure, promote the flow of trade, and then enhance in-depth cooperation of advantageous industries.

　　Secondly, to integrate “One Belt and One Road” strategy, there is a lot of work need to be done by the government. The government should construct more platforms more actively, organize more activities, and help enterprises to tackle difficulties and problems that they could not solve by themselves in the process of going globally.

　　Thirdly, all provincial departments should study the thought and measures for foreign trade and economic cooperation, investment promotion and so on and accelerate the formulation of new form of opening up within the framework of “One Belt and One Road” strategy.

　　Fourthly, the implementation plannings, policies, measures and specific projects formulated by government departments concerning “One Belt and One Road” Strategy should be viewed and accessed by the deep reports of media in order to create a sound atmosphere.

　　Mr. Gan Lin, vice governor, said that there were certain disadvantages and distances for inland provinces compared with coastal provinces. Sichuan Daily Group set actively the topic of “One Belt and One Road” strategy, which was of great significance for Sichuan to increase opening up sense in new form and grasp strategic opportunities. A lot of information and situation brought by them was quite valuable and suggestions they offered were also constructive. He hoped that in later reports, they could highlight the importance, base on introduction and going going globally, focus on key points, enlarge central issues and help to improve Sichuan’s opening up in a better way.

　　Heads of provincial departments also had something to say. Mr. Xie Kaihua, head of Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce said that it was an amazing creation for Sichuan Daily Group to organize such a large scale foreign interview. These interviews could make great contributions for Sichuan to enlarge opening up and integrate “One Belt and One Road”. The information and suggestions from these reporters brought about deeply enlightenment for us. The highlight of provincial leaders on opening up work also excited us. We would organize and formulate the work focuses of “One Belt and One Road” later and make greater contributions to promoting Sichuan to integrate into national strategy.
 

　　Mr. Mu Xinhai, director of Department of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs of Sichuan Provincial People's Government, commented that the reports and interviews organized by Sichuan Daily Group were meaningful and fruitful. They were also initiative for government departments to dock with “One Belt and One Road” strategy. To some extend, the reports of Sichuan Daily and Western China City Daily were pioneering. We were going to organize a large scale visit on the basis of report achievements and carry out fields research to these countries.