On 18 May 2015, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), together with the People’s Governments of Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Henan, Hunan and Shanxi Provinces, as well as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Good -neighborly and Friendly Cooperation Committee), hosted the International Forum on the Cooperation of the Six Provinces in Central China on the “One Belt One Road” Initiative in the East Lake International Conference Centre in Wuhan. Around 400 people including the delegation of Ambassadors, Counsellors and other diplomats from ASEAN Embassies in China, important politicians and representatives from Russia, Republic of Korea, Hungary, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), think tanks on the “One Belt One Road” Strategy, and entrepreneurs attended the Forum.
Ms. Huang Ying, Acting Secretary-General and Director of General Affairs and Coordination (GACD) of ACC moderated the Forum. She remarked that the “One Belt One Road” Strategy, as an important initiative proposed by the Chinese Government, needed joint efforts of all the countries mentioned in the Strategy. She hoped, through the Forum, the six Provinces in Central China would further strengthen their communication and cooperation with the relevant countries to create a mutually beneficial future for all.
Mr. Gan Rongkun, Vice Governor of Hubei Province, Ms. Hua Jianhui, Vice Governor of Anhui Province, Mr. Hu Youtao, Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province, Mr. Zhao Jiancai, Vice Governor of Hunan Province, Mr. Wang Yixin, Vice Governor of Shanxi Province, and, Mr. Gyurcsany Ferenc, former Prime Minister of Hungary, Mr. Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister of France, Mr. M. Khakdodov, Deputy Secretary-General of SCO, Mr. Li Yuan, Director of Trade and Investment Division (TID) of ACC, Mr. Alexander Solovyov, Head of the Udmurt Republic and Mr. Zhao Jinping, Researcher of the Development research Centre of the State Council, delivered speeches in sequence in the Forum. They expressed the views that the strategic position of the six Provinces in Central China was very significant. Their industrial developments were complimentary to the countries mentioned in the “One Belt One Road" Strategy and have enjoyed great potential for development and cooperation. The six Provinces should give full play to their advantages, and strengthen cooperation in an effort to jointly build a multi-level and multi-channel regional cooperation.