Beijing : On November 27th, an online seminar themed New Opportunities of RCEP to Promote Practical Cooperation between China and ASEAN was successfully held by the Silk Road NGO Cooperation Network (SIRONET). About 100 representatives of NGOs, think tanks and enterprises from 10 different countries attended the seminar, representing China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, China Foundation for Peace and Development, Yangon University of Economics, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, Jinyu Group, Indonesian Research and Development International, Yundi Behavior and Health Research Center and Mekong Centre for Strategic Studies of the Asian Vision Institute, among others.

At the 17th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward that China would work with ASEAN to advance all-round cooperation under the guidance of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030, and such efforts would help maintain the good momentum for development and prosperity in our region and cultivate a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

To respond to President Xi’s appeal, the representatives of this seminar had heated discussion on practical cooperation between China and ASEAN.

Insightful keynote speeches were delivered by President Rommel Banlaoi of Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, Deputy Secretary-General Wang Hua of China Foundation for Peaceful Development, Rector Tin Win of Yangon University of Economics, Executive Vice President Wang Xingzui of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, Executive Director Nathaniel Don Marquez of the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, Chairman of Board of Directors Ma Jianxun of Jinyu Group, Senior Advisor Dr. Ing. Totok Hari Wibowo of Indonesian Research and Development International, Dr. Duo Lin of Yundi Behavior and Health Research Center and Director Dr. LENG Thearith of the Mekong Centre for Strategic Studies of the Asian Vision Institute. These wonderful speeches focused on topics covering Taking the Signing of RCEP as an Opportunity to Promote Connectivity between China and ASEAN in Commodity, Capital, Technology and Personnel, In-depth Participation in Global Governance, Promoting the Building of A Community with a Shared Future for Mankind and so on.

The participants highly recommended this event, calling it fruitful and recognizing its contribution to enhancing mutual understanding among NGOs of China and ASEAN countries and in providing valuable opportunities for future practical cooperation.

In order to implement Chinese President Xi Jingping’s proposal of developing a network for cooperation among the NGOs in countries along the Belt and Road in the First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, CNIE proposed to build the SIRONET. As of now, 352 NGOs from 72 countries have voluntarily joined the SIRONET and carried out more than 400 livelihood projects. Under the joint efforts of member organizations, SIRONET has become a very important platform to enhance people-to-people connectivity in countries along the Belt and Road.