The 2024 Belt and Road Commerce Chambers and Associations Conference (GCCAC) was successfully held on December 5, 2024, in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, under the theme: “Maritime Fuzhou: Together for a New Chapter in Maritime Silk Road Cooperation.”
This significant event brought together ambassadors, leaders, experts, business associations, and entrepreneurs to deepen economic, cultural, and technological cooperation between nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and to further enhance the Maritime Silk Road’s prosperity.
Promoting High-Quality BRI Development
Entering its new stage of high-quality development, the BRI has become a cornerstone of global cooperation. At the conference, speakers highlighted the importance of fostering:
- New models of collaboration to build a more connected and inclusive ecosystem.
- Drivers of high-quality growth to support global development.
- Civil forces and partnerships to advance the BRI practically and sustainably.
Guo Ningning, Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, emphasized Fuzhou’s historical significance as an origin of the Maritime Silk Road and its active role in the BRI’s joint construction. “This conference injects new momentum and vitality into high-quality BRI collaboration,” Guo stated.
A Decade of BRI Progress
Reflecting on a decade of the BRI’s success, Cui Shixin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People’s Daily, noted that:
- Business associations have acted as bridges between enterprises, governments, and industries.
- Civil organizations have created favorable platforms for trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Cui called for leveraging business associations and media to build the BRI into a “belt of development” and a “road of happiness” for the benefit of all mankind.
Collaboration and Organization
The conference, guided by the People’s Daily, was hosted by the Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government, Global Times, and the Fujian Federation of Commerce and Industry. Co-organizers included:
- Global Times Online
- Administrative Committees of Fuzhou New Area and the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone
- Fuzhou Federation of Industry and Commerce
- Fujian Chuanzheng Culture Management Committee
A Gateway to the Future
As a central hub for the Maritime Silk Road, Fuzhou is poised to deepen global ties and drive sustainable development through innovation and collaboration. The 2024 GCCAC reaffirmed the BRI’s role in fostering global cooperation and set a roadmap for future endeavors, uniting nations toward shared prosperity.
