Full text of Zhang Gaoli's speech at China-ASEAN Expo, Business and Investment Summit(3)

Third, work hard to strengthen connectivity. Connectivity is a significant part of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. We should enhance planning and focus on key corridors, key links and key projects. We should step up efforts to build networks of maritime and river transport, high-speed roads, high-speed railways, aviation and optical cable communications, and make these comprehensive connectivity networks safe and efficient. We should accelerate the building of the China-ASEAN Port Cities Cooperation Network and the China-ASEAN Public Information Platform for Port Logistics. We should actively push forward the preparation for the establishment of an Asian infrastructure investment bank, so as to address the financing bottlenecks of the region, especially Southeast Asia, and advance common development of the region. We should expand the scale and scope of the bilateral local currency swap, expand the RMB cross-border trade settlement, set up a trading center for the RMB and currencies of ASEAN countries, and advance cross-border cooperation in financial infrastructure development and financial services.

Fourth, work hard to conduct maritime cooperation. ASEAN is on the Maritime Silk Road and is a key region for building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. China is ready to strengthen maritime cooperation with ASEAN countries and make such cooperation a new highlight and new engine for the growth of China-ASEAN relations. China hopes to exchange views with ASEAN about designating next year as the "Year of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation", strengthen dialogue and communication between departments in charge of maritime affairs, enhance exchanges and coordination on maritime policies, and explore the possibility of setting up an exchange and cooperation mechanism between maritime law enforcement agencies. We should make full use of the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund to boost exchanges and cooperation on marine and maritime economy, connectivity, environmental protection, safety and culture so as to accumulate experience and set a good example for relevant countries in jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Fifth, work hard to push forward sub-regional cooperation. The Pan-Beibu Gulf economic cooperation is a significant component of China-ASEAN sub-regional cooperation. It has seen concrete results thanks to eight years of joint efforts and should continue to be vigorously strengthened. We should actively push for progress in the building of the Nanning-Singapore Economic Corridor, with the aim of facilitating trans-regional and cross-border flow of various resources and factors of production, forming a corridor economic belt featuring mutual reinforcement, regional division of functions, interconnected development and shared growth, and fostering a main artery for China-ASEAN cooperation. In order to further support the building of the ASEAN Community and help ASEAN narrow regional development gaps, China is ready to set up a dialogue and cooperation mechanism with countries along the Mekong River, which will complement and coordinate with the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program (GMS), so that sub-regional cooperation will bring even greater benefits to the people of China and ASEAN countries.

Sixth, work hard to increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Greater and deeper mutual understanding between the people is conducive to the all-round, sustained and steady growth of the friendship between the two sides. China is ready to develop even closer cooperation with ASEAN countries in education, culture, science and technology, environmental protection, tourism, health and other sectors, and enhance exchanges between the youth, media and think tanks and at the subnational level. China will deliver on its commitment of providing 15,000 scholarships for ASEAN countries, make the best use of the ASEAN-China Center, the China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week, the China-ASEAN Education and Training Center, the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center and other platforms, set up a China-ASEAN technology transfer center, support the development of the China-ASEAN Think Tank Network, and advance the building of the Pan-Beibu Gulf and Maritime Silk Road tourism circles. This year is the year of China-ASEAN cultural exchange. We should ensure the success of the over 100 cultural events in various forms, strengthen the cultural links and friendship between the people of the two sides, jointly cement the public and social foundation for our relations, and promote the Asian spirit of unity, cooperation and mutual assistance.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

As a Chinese saying goes, "when brothers share the same purpose, they will be strong enough to cut through metal." As long as we keep working together, we will achieve win-win results. The China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit provide an important platform for China and ASEAN countries to enhance political mutual trust, expand the CAFTA market, and advance all-round exchanges. They have become a symbol of China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation. I sincerely wish you well and success in your work during the CAEXPO and Summit in China. I wish the 11th China-ASEAN Expo and the 11th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit a complete success. And I wish the CAEXPO and Summit new achievements and new highlights every year, so that they will make significant contribution to the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and regional cooperation and development.

Thank you.