The 12th Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum and the 2022 Beibu Gulf International Gateway Port Cooperation Summit commences on July 8 in Nanning. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 12th Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum and the 2022 Beibu Gulf International Gateway Port Cooperation Summit commenced on July 8 in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The event was held by 11 parties, such as the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Thai Ministry of Commerce, as well as the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore.

Domestic and overseas guests gathered in both online and on-site venues to discuss pressing issues, such as utilizing opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), jointly building the Belt and Road, as well as developing the maritime economy and injecting new vitality into the high-level construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

A "Nanning Initiative" calling on industrial and commercial circles in the Pan-Beibu Gulf region to jointly build the Beibu Gulf International Gateway Port was also launched during the event.

Four cooperation projects in port logistics and industrial chains were signed, including the memorandum of cooperation signed by Beibu Gulf Port Group and Singapore International Port Group (PSA), as well as the strategic cooperation contract inked by Guangxi Modern Logistics Group and SF Express.

Also announced during the event were the latest achievements in new sea, road, and aviation transportation passages. Among them, two aviation cargo transport routes from Nanning to Phnom Penh, Cambodia and to Rangoon, Myanmar will be opened in July for raw materials of garment production, as well as cold chain seafood products.

It is expected that the forum will further promote China and ASEAN's cooperation in building the Belt and Road, as well as inject new vitality into the joint construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Beibu Gulf International Gateway Port.