“The International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum” (The 8th IIICF) was successfully concluded today (2 June). In this two-day event, 14 thematic and concurrent forums were held. More than 220 sessions of business talks were organised, and 24 business contracts, framework agreements or memorandums of understanding were arranged. Among them seven projects under co-operation agreements involved collaboration between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. This fully illustrated Macao’s function as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The results of this event were fruitful, as there is a new driving force for countries and regions to advance economies jointly.
The Ministry of Commerce of China, Macao SAR, and Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao Special Administrative Region were the advisers of this event. The China International Contractors Association and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute jointly organised “The 8thIIICF”, the protocol signing ceremony and press conference were held today. Hartwig Schafer, Vice-President of World Bank, David Mabumba, Minister of Energy of Zambia, Ismir Jusko, Minister of Communications and Transport, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Shao Yingjun, Commercial Counsellor of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of Ministry of Commerce of China, Mr. Fang Qiuchen, Chairman of China International Contractors Association and Jackson Chang, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute were invited to attend the press preference.
As the Forum was hosted in Macao, Macao could find its exact position in the construction of “The Belt and Road”
Chang concluded this forum saying that firstly the forum has built up a platform for mutual communication and mutually beneficial co-operation in the industries. At the same time, it was combined with the current background of the national development. This forum was of important implications concerning the realisation of “The Belt and Road” construction, and the advancement of industrial development and regional economic integration. Secondly, it also increased Macao’s involvement in the construction of “The Belt and Road”, building a platform for the economic diversified development. As the forum was held in Macao successfully, There were pragmatic implications as it helped Macao to find its exact position in the construction of “The Belt and Road”, to properly function as a platform and catch up with the fast pace of national development. In the forum, “The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index (2017)” and “The Report on the Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index (2017)” were launched which will help enterprises from Mainland China, Macao, countries along “The Belt and Road”, and Portuguese-speaking Countries explore opportunities to advance co-operation. Thirdly, it further emphasised and illustrated Macao’s role as a services platform for commercial co-operation between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. During the forum the Unveiling Ceremony of “China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Co-operation and Development Fund” Headquarters, and the hosting of “High-Level Seminar on Finance and International Co-operation for Productivity between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” will help Macao upgrade its role as a financial services platform between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
Fang pointed out that “Four Breakthroughs” were achieved in this forum. Firstly, the professionalism of the forum was emphasised. New breakthroughs were achieved in terms of the size and level, and international influence which were also raised. Secondly, the function of the forum as the platform for international collaboration was also emphasised. It led to the breakthroughs in industrial development and the advancement of business co-operation. Thirdly, the role of the forum to drive industrial development was illustrated, as breakthroughs were made in terms of the industrial connectivity and business collaboration. In particular, the enterprises in the international infrastructure co-operation industrial chain actively participated in the event. The number of representatives of the enterprises of the in equipment manufacturing, financial insurance, design consultation, construction materials, and project services, industrial chain was 46%. Fourthly, Macao elements were illustrated. New breakthroughs were achieved as it helped Macaoto actively get involved in “The Belt and Road”, and to enhance its function as the “services platform for the commercial reciprocation between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”. Six Macao institutions were invited to be the co-organisers again of the forum the “High-Level Seminar on Finance and International Co-operation for Productivity between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”. Many high-ranking government officials from eight Portuguese-speaking Countries joined the seminar. That pushed forward the co-operation in the areas of finance and infrastructure between Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
In addition, Commercial Counsellor Shao Yingjun introduced the situation and co-operation results of “The 3rdChina - Latin America Infrastructure Co-operation Forum”. Minister David Mabumba and Minister Ismir Jusko also introduced the results and the situation of Mainland China’s reciprocation in infrastructure, respectively. Schafer, by joining this forum, saw that there is still a gap in international infrastructure. Thus the advancement of the development in the relevant aspects has to be driven by innovation and creativity. Meanwhile, he also claimed that the World Bank will further support the construction of “The Belt and Road”.
In this forum, over 1,700 participants from 63 countries and regions attended. The participants included 57 guests of ministerial level. Other guests came from the industrial chain related to international infrastructure. Among them there were 65 ENR250 international contractors, and 73 of the top 500 enterprises in the world also sent executives and representatives to attend the event. Meanwhile, executives of 32 international financial institutions, representatives of over 30 international organisations and presidents of business associations in the industry also took part in the event.
The 9thIIICF will be held on 7-8 June 2018 in Macao
