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China.com.cn: BICCC Held in Beijing

2017-6-19 9:01:29

Belt and Road Alliance of Municipal Chambers of Commerce is established

The Fourth Beijing International Conference of Friendly Chambers of Commerce (BICCC) was fruitfully held in Beijing on June 8th——The Beijing Consensus on Cooperation 2017 was reached, and the Belt and Road Alliance of Municipal Chambers of Commerce was initiated and established.

More than 400 participants from 51 countries and regions attended the event, including heads of World Chambers Federation of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC WCF), World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Paris Chamber of Commerce (CCIP), commerce officials from embassies in China and business representatives from home and abroad.

Mr. Chen Zhou, vice-chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) and Mr. Xu Zhijun, deputy secretary general of People's Government of Beijing Municipality attended and addressed the conference.

The BICCC 2017 identifies “cooperation, development and win-win” as its theme. Various events were held such as dialogues, round table meetings, negotiations, exhibitions and field trips, etc. Centering on the current global economic situation, participants exchanged ideas on issues of economic globalization, shared innovative models and experience in serving enterprises, and established a common ground to address challenges facing the business world.

As Mr. Chen Zhou pointed out at the opening ceremony, the current global economy grows unevenly, and economic globalization has come to a crossroad. Exploring new development path and new driving forces for growth is a common concern shared by governments and business circles of countries around the globe. Chambers of commerce all over the world and its cooperation networks have abundant practical experience in enhancing communication between enterprises and governments, promoting inclusiveness of policies and helping small and medium enterprises integrating into global value chain. He stressed that under the international cooperation framework of the Belt & Road Initiative, chambers of commerce of all countries should give full play to regional features and resource advantages, so as to contribute to common prosperity of the economy.

Mr. Xu Zhijun pointed out in his speech that the alliance of chambers of commerce can function as a bridge to strengthen communication and deepen cooperation between governments and the business world. It has unique advantages in promoting trade and linking people together. It is necessary to strengthen connectivity, actively promote policies, build platforms, voice for the business circle, improve mechanisms and implement achievements. Initiative and establishment of the Belt and Road Alliance of Municipal Chambers of Commerce at BICCC is a significant attempt in that regard.

At the dialogue meeting, Mr. Rona Yircali, honorary chairman of World Chambers Federation of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC WCF), and Mr. Li Mingtao, dean of Research Institute of China International Electronic Commerce Center, delivered speeches on investment and trade promotion service provided by chambers of commerce.

Mr. Liu Chao, deputy director of legal department of CCPIT, Mr. Chen Hongbing, director of World Intellectual Property Organization China Office, and Mr. Andritoiu, vice chairman of Belgrade Chamber of Commerce (Romania) offered incisive interpretations of the legal service provided by chambers of commerce. Fixating on the topic in discussion, participants shared insights on innovative models and methods to stimulate investment and trade development through cross-border e-commerce platforms and exchanged experience and practice of and made suggestions to chambers of commerce in providing legal services in corporate international operation.

The presidential round table meeting was also held during the conference. Presidents and representatives from 16 domestic and foreign chambers of commerce shared their annual working priorities and cooperation projects.

Mrs. Xiong Jiuling, chairperson of CCPIT Beijing Sub-council and Beijing Chamber of International Commerce, introduced the Beijing Consensus on Cooperation 2017 and the proposal to establish the Belt and Road Alliance of Municipal Chambers of Commerce. She said that BICCC is committed to building an exchange platform for chambers of commerce and enterprises to expand connections, explore development concepts and deepen communication. During the conference, participants have focused on common concerns of the business world, such as identifying new driving forces for the world economy, strengthening coordination to facilitate inclusive development for SMEs over the world. Other topics covered include the Belt & Road Initiative, latest development concepts and ways to improve the competitiveness of SMEs by means of Internet Plus and cross-border e-commerce platforms. Based on the discussions and results, the Beijing Consensus on Cooperation 2017 was reached, which includes main points as follows:

First, global integration is being challenged, and world economy continues to face downward risks and uncertainties. Against this background, chambers of commerce of countries, regions and cities should play to their advantages, make joint efforts and firmly support free and convenient trade and investment, as well as help SMEs to integrate into the global value chain in a fair way, improve competitiveness of the countries, regions and cities where they are located, and promote steady and stable economic growth and prosperity of the world economy.

Second, the evolution of world economic development concepts, mechanisms and business models and the increasing enterprise service demand require chambers of commerce to continue strengthening communication, cooperation and mutual learning, constantly create sustainable service models and explore new pathways and opportunities of cooperation among chambers of commerce.

Third, chambers of commerce should explore and utilize new approaches, such as Internet Plus, to promote international investment and trade, as well as support international trade by means of cross-border e-commerce platforms.

Fourth, the Belt & Road Initiative adds new energy to global business community in expanding win-win cooperation and deepening integrated development. Chambers of commerce can serve as a special tie in enhancing connectivity of the world. BICCC supports and proposes to establish the Belt and Road Alliance of Municipal Chambers of Commerce, which will further strengthen cooperation willingness and integrate regional features and resource advantages of chambers of commerce in different countries, regions and cities to build a platform that can engage SMEs in participating international cooperation under the Belt & Road Initiative.

Mrs. Xiong Jiuling noted that the Belt and Road Alliance of Municipal Chambers of Commerce aims to grow into a service union, which can promote mutual trust and is complementary in functions among chambers of commerce, so that better service can be available for SMEs in participating the Belt & Road Initiative and global economic cooperation. The alliance will become a platform that boosts mutual trust and cooperation among enterprises, a tie that integrates services of chambers of commerce and a bridge that deepens cooperation and friendship between cities.

In order to better serve enterprises and promote economic and trade cooperation, the conference organized the Investment and Trade Cooperation Promotion Fair. 10 projects including JD Worldwide, Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce & Industry, ROMEXPO (Italy), China-Belarus Industrial Park were presented and related business negotiations conducted.

The BICCC is co-hosted by CCPIT Beijing Sub-council and Beijing Chamber of International Commerce, held in Beijing in every two years. The purpose of BICCC is to give play to the function of chambers of commerce as bridges and bonds, build communication platforms for governments, chambers of commerce, investment and trade promotion organizations and enterprises in different countries and regions and exploit resource advantages of various parties so as to jointly contribute to economic and social development and prosperity.