China, South Asia to cooperate on interconnectivity, poverty alleviation

Li Jiming, director-general of Yunnan’s Foreign Affairs Office, reports to the media the outcome of the First China-South Asia Cooperation Forum. /Photo by Maila Ager

Kunming City, China — Interconnectivity, business, poverty alleviation, and finance were among the key areas for future cooperation identified in the First China-South Asia Cooperation Forum (CSACF) at the Hilton Yuxi Fuxian Lake in China on Friday.

The forum was attended by nearly 400 participants from China and South Asian nations, and other countries from South East Asia like Myanmar and Vietnam.

“With the joint efforts of all the participants, the 1st China-South Asia Cooperation Forum was concluded with great success,” Li Jiming, director-general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government, said at a press briefing.

Li said “wide consensus” has been forged on several issues, including the release of the First CSACF Fuxian Lake Initiative to support the establishment of the Secretariat and other entity institutions in the province.

“Key areas for future cooperation have been identified, including inteconnectivity, business, local government, poverty reduction and allevation, finance and people-to-people exchanges etc.,” he said.

“The cooperation atmosphere of candid exchange, mutual assistance, and shared development has been created,” he added.

Li said participants also expressed their desire to strengthen regional cooperation for inclusive development for an “open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.”

Li said CSACF would be a new, regular platform for policy dialogue, economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and knowledge-sharing for China and South Asian countries.

The forum will be held annually at the lakeside of Fuxian Lake.

“The success of the 1st CSACF has strengthened the confidence in the future of China-South Asia cooperation as well as the development of the CSACF. Confidence is power and is even more precious than gold,” said Li.

Li said the CSACF likewise seeks to become:

• A new platform for serving the high-level policy dialogues between China and South Asian nations;
• A “grand platform” for serving regional and economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries, and
• A “grand network and friends’ circle” to enhance friendship and mutual trust, cultural exchange, and knowledge sharing between China and South Asian nations.

/vvp