2013 China-ASEAN Economic and Trade Forum Held in Boao

Boao Forum for Asia SME Conference 2013 was held in Boao, Hainan province from January 16 to 18, 2013. Co-hosted by ASEAN-China Centre and China Enterprise Cooperation and Promoting Association, the China-ASEAN Economic and Trade Forum was held during the same period.

Mr. Ma Mingqiang, Secretary General of ASEAN-China Centre, Mr. Song Yaoming, Deputy Director General, Department of Asian affairs of MOFCOM, Mr. Yang Yihang, Deputy Director General, Investment Promotion Agency of MOFCOM, Mr. Liu Ping, Executive Director of Office of Rules of Origin, Department of Customs Collection of General Administration of Customs, Ms. Jiang Gongying, Senior Researcher of ASEAN-China Watch, Ms. Suphatra SRIMAITREEPHITHAK, Consul General of Thai Consulate General in Guangzhou and Mr. Ong Chong Yi, Economic Minister Counsellor addressed the Forum, while Ms. Tann Pol Neary, Commercial Counsellor and Mr. Seng Leena, First Secretay of Embassy of Cambodia, Mr. Marolop Nainggolan, Commercial Counsellor of Embassy of Indonesia, Mr. Khampanh SENGTHONGKHAM, Commercial Counsellor of Embassy of Laos and Mr. Ivan Frank M. Olea, First Secretary of Embassy of Philippines attended the forum and briefed the Chinese entrepreneurs on their own countires' investment environment, policies and incentives respectively.

Mr. Ma Mingqiang pointed out in his speech that ASEAN-China economic and trade cooperation now enjoys the best policies and infinite opportunities. Chinese enterprises are encouraged to make full and the best use of CAFTA, take advantage of the opportunities brought by the rapid development of ASEAN economy and the acceleration of the regional integration. Chinese enterprises should quicken up industrial transfer and optimization of resources allocation through complementary advantage in order to achieve win-win development by mutually beneficial cooperation.

Mr. Song Yaoming briefed on the ASEAN-China economic and trade development and the updates of bilateral cooperation on CAFTA, China-ASEAN connectivity and RCEP.

Mr. Yang Yihang introduced the major functions of Investment Promotion Agency to assist Chinese SMEs in exploring ASEAN market, including organizing enterprises to visit ASEAN, improving information service, hosting investment promotion activities and strengthening cooperation with investment promotion organizations in ASEAN.

Mr. Liu Ping elaborated on the rules and certificate of Origin, the requirement and procedure of application of COO. He also analysed different situations that enterprises may encounter with when applying for COO and the solutions accordingly through abundant case studies.

Ms. Jiang Gongying briefed on the present development and features of industrial cooperation between ASEAN and China with detailed and professional data and analysed the sectors, ways and trend of business cooperation between ASEAN and Chinese enterprises.

According to the lately released statistics, the two-way trade volume between ASEAN and China has already exceeded 400 billion USD in 2012 and the bilateral investment volume reached 100 billion USD at the end of last year with a rapid increase of Chinese investment to ASEAN. As a vigorous image of Chinese economy, Chinese SMEs have speeded up their pace in going global in recent years. As the first destination of investment, ASEAN has attracted widespread attention. The China-ASEAN Economic and Trade Forum was warmly received by enterprises.