On July 31st, Symposium of Sichuan Provincial Comprehensive Opening-up and Cooperation and Deepening Southward Region Cooperation was held in Chengdu under the auspices of Sichuan Provincial People’s Government. At the symposium, representatives of consular officers in Chengdu gave their opinions and offered suggestions regarding momentums driving the "Four-direction Expansion and Across-the-Board Opening-up " of Sichuan Province, so as to form a new trend featuring three-dimensional and comprehensive opening-up.
“Southern Sichuan is occupying an increasingly important position in the economic development of Sichuan Province. At the same time, it also serves as the gateway for Sichuan’s southward development,” the first remark by Mr. Amir Lati, Consul General of Israel in Chengdu, who is very familiar with Israel’s cooperation with places including Yibin, Liangshan, Deyang, Ya'an, and Panzhihua in recent years. “In September this year, the direct flight from Chengdu to Tel Aviv will be opened, which will effectively promote exchanges and cooperation between Southwest China and Israel in various realms." Mr. Amir Lati said that the Consulate General will continue to play the role of a bridge in the future.
“We have received more and more visa applications from people in Sichuan Province, meanwhile more and more companies in Czech are showing interest for Sichuan.” Mr. Karel Srol, Consul General of Czech in Chengdu believes that the direct flight linking the two places have promoted the relationship between the Czech Republic and Sichuan. "On top of that, the China Railway Express has brought about closer relationship between Prague and Chengdu." Mr. Srol remarked that the opening-up path of Sichuan's "Westward Deepening " will facilitate exchanges and cooperation between Czech Republic, especially the Central Bohemian Region, and Sichuan in the fields of aviation and aerospace, mechanical and chemical engineering, as well as biotechnology.
Advocating the “Four-direction Expansion and Across-the-Board Opening-up”, Sichuan still attaches great prominence to the southward and eastward development at the current stage.
Mr. Nguyen Van Theo, Economic Counselor of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in China, made a special trip to Chengdu and cited groups of data to highlight the fruitful results achieved by Vietnam and China in opening-up and cooperation. "Sichuan and Vietnam should strengthen field visits to look for opportunities for cooperation." Mr. Nguyen Van Theo said that the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in China will provide relevant assistance and support within its capacity.
"As far as I know, Sichuan should vigorously promote the construction of an open passage with a focus on the three-dimensional transportation, which, in my point of view, will certainly help driving the development of logistics and economy in Sichuan." According to Mr. Steven Pang, Consul General of Singapore in Chengdu, this will bring Singapore and Sichuan new development opportunities. “Singapore hopes to strengthen cooperation with Sichuan in developing modern logistics industry.” Mr. Steven Pang said that Singapore is actively promoting the construction of the “Southward Passage” connecting China and Singapore, an international trade and logistics channel linking China's western provinces and ASEAN countries, which has provided a new platform and carrier for implementing the “Belt and Road Initiative”. “At present, we have taken in 4 western provinces, and we also welcome Sichuan situated at the intersection of the “Belt and Road Initiative” and the Yangtze River Economic Belt to join us to expand the southward logistics channel and promote the in-depth opening-up and cooperation in the western region."
Sichuan’s “southward emphasis” also allowed Ms. Bhavivarn Noraphallop, Acting Consul General of Thailand in Chengdu to see the trend of cooperation deepening. "Thailand has always attached great importance to its cooperation with Sichuan, which is evident from the frequent direct flights between the two places." Ms. Bhavivarn Noraphallop revealed that the Thai General Chamber of Commerce is planning to set up an office in Chengdu to promote further cooperation between the two places. She also hopes to seek cooperation with Sichuan in developing logistics industry.
In addition to the consular officers in Chengdu, speeches were also delivered at the symposium by delegates of foreign embassies in China and Hong Kong Economic and Trade office, Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Sichuan Provincial Economic and Information Commission, Department of Transportation of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce, Department of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs, and responsible persons for relevant departments in Chengdu, Luzhou, Leshan, Panzhihua, Yibin and Ganzi.
