From August 31 to September 13, 2017, SIIS President Chen Dongxiao led a group to visit Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Vietnam. The delegation had a wide range of discussions with governmental officials, senior scholars, diplomats and representatives of entrepreneurs on 2017 APEC Summit, economic and trade cooperation between China and Southeast Asian countries, maritime silkroad building etc.
From August 31 to September 3, during their stay in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the SIIS delegation visited governmental departments including Foreign Affairs Office, Development & Reform Committee, and Department of Commerce and held meetings on Guangxi’s engagement in Belt and Road initiative, and industrial cooperation with ASEAN.
From September 3-6, during their stay in Sri Lanka, the SIIS delegation co-hosted a symposium on the Maritime silkroad and sustainable development with Pathfinder Foundation.
The SIIS delegation co-hosted a symposium on geopolitical change and China-Sri Lanka relations. Chinese scholars had a discussion with their Sri Lanka colleagues including Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa，former Secretary of Defense on the promotion of bilateral political and security cooperation. The delegation also visited the leading thinktank of Sri Lanka, Institute of Policy Studies and had a discussion on industrial cooperation.
The delegation visited Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka. Ambassador Yi Xianliang met with SIIS scholars and shared his insights on Sri Lanka’s engagement in Belt and Road building and China-Sri Lanka cooperation.
On September 5, the delegation visited Colombo harbor, one of the main projects of Chinese investment in Sri Lanka. The experts had meetings with representatives from Chinese entrepreneurs and had a discussion on the investment environment, challenges and opportunities in Sri Lanka.
From September 6-10, during their stay in Singapore, the SIIS delegation visited Chinese Embassy in Singapore. SIIS President Chen Dongxiao delivered a speech on “who will be the provider of public goods for maritime silkroad?”
The delegation had a meeting with Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani, former ambassador to the UN and discussed about China-ASEAN cooperation.
While the delegation visited the Foreign Ministry of Singapore, SIIS President Chen Dongxiao gave a keynote speech on “new challenges of globalization and China’s role” for young diplomats of Singapore. The delegation also had a meeting with Amb. Ng Teck Hean, Deputy Secretary of Foreign Ministry and discussed about China-Singapore relations.
The delegation visited the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studie (RSIS) and had a meeting with Amb. Ong Keng Yong, former Secretary-General of ASEAN. The two sides had a roundtable discussion on China-ASEAN relations and regional economic cooperation etc.
On September 8, the delegation had a meeting at the Yusof Ishak Institute and met with Mr. Loh Khum Yean, Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The two sides had a discussion on regional economic and trade cooperation.
The delegation had a meeting with Dr. Alan Bollard, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, and discussed about the future development of APEC and China’s role.
On September 9, the delegation had meetings with representatives from ICBC and STEC. The employees introduced the investment environment of Singapore and the role of entrepreneurs in Belt and Road initiative.
From September 10-12, during their stay in Vietnam, the delegation visited the Institute of Chinese Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. They had a meeting with renowned experts on China including Dr. DO Tien Sam and Dr. Hoang The Anh and discussed about the APEC Summit, Belt and Road initiative and China-Vietnam relations. The delegation also met with Dr. Nguyen Vu Tung, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and his colleagues. The two sides had a discussion on bilateral relations and regional security issues etc.
The delegation had a discussion with scholars from the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy on regional economic cooperation and domestic governance etc. Besides, the delegation visited Chinese Embassy in Vietnam and had a meeting with charge d’affaires Ms. Yin Haibong.
The delegation met with Mr. Do Hung Viet, Deputy Director-General of APEC 2017 National Secretariat and had a discussion on the preparation of the Summit, future development and challenges of APEC etc.
The delegation also visited China-owned entrepreneurs in Vietnam. The leadership of the entrepreneurs introduced their development in Vietnam and their concerns in investment.
The members of the delegation include Amb. Liu Youfa, non-resident research fellow of SIIS, Prof. Wu Chunsi, director of the Institute for International Strategic Studies, Prof. Zhang Yao, director of the Center for Maritime and Polar Studies, Prof. Zhou Shixin from the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies and Dr. Feng Shuai.