China's development to bring big opportunities to global businesses: forum guests

China's development over the next five years will bring new opportunities for cooperation with countries around the world, according to guests attending the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference in southern China's Hainan Island.

Themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation", the four-day forum, starting on Tuesday, brought government officials, business leaders and scholars together for meetings, roundtables and dialog sessions.

Many guests said China's economy has demonstrated vitality and resilience across various fields.

"China is one of the leading countries in saving energy, producing energy and using energy with wisdom. And I think it's a good example to other parts in using solar energy," said Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of United Nations General Assembly.

Whether in the discussions on stage or the lively exchanges off stage, what foreign guests are most interested in at the forum is the clear path toward high-quality development outlined in China's 15th Five-Year Plan.

"This forum is of course focused on the outcomes of the 15th Five-Year Plan. There's a very clear destination for foreign businesses and Chinese businesses in China, which is really to invest in technology, in digitization, in AI," said Peter Burnett, chief executive of the China-Britain Business Council.

"China is promoting its role on a global scale as a stable partner. This is clear for the foreign companies investing in China, understanding the five-year plan and understanding the policy that the government want to promote. This I think is the key interest for the foreigners, foreign companies, business organizations," said Lorenzo Riccardi, chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce.

"I think that there are opportunities for investment in China. Other companies from other countries might want to look at that and see how they can benefit from investing in China and taking those to the rest of the world," said Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat.

Many guests said at a time when the world economy faces major uncertainties, China's 15th Five-Year Plan holds new opportunities for shared global development, and injects some stability into a world undergoing turbulent changes.

"I understand that this new five-year's plan includes ideas how that new phase will look like, what kind of investments are needed for that. It's important for the global community that collaboration with China is going to be continued," said former Finnish prime minister Esko Aho.

"ASEAN is now, Southeast Asia, is China's largest trading partner and China is also Southeast Asia's largest trading partner. So I hope that with the announcement of the new five-year-plan, where China will continue to be open to partnerships," said Mari Elka Pangestu, vice chair of Indonesia's National Economic Council, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"I think with all the uncertainties, it's a good sign that at least there's a plan that you can keep to. And of course China is one of the biggest economies in the world. So on that account, whatever China is up to is something that we have to pay attention to," said Marton Ugrosdy, Deputy State Secretary of Hungary.

China's development to bring big opportunities to global businesses: forum guests

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on the international community to promote dialogue among the parties involved in the conflict in the Middle East.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty at the latter's request.

Abdelatty briefed Wang on his views on the development of the regional situation. Expressing that the Egyptian side is deeply concerned about the current situation, he said that if energy and power facilities are attacked and paralyzed, it will lead to chaos throughout the region.

To cool down the situation, Egypt is communicating with all parties and actively promoting negotiations, he said.

Noting that Egypt and China are comprehensive strategic partners, Abdelatty said that Egypt is willing to maintain close coordination with China and jointly enhance diplomatic efforts to prevent the region and the world from falling further into turmoil.

For his part, Wang said that both China and Egypt are responsible countries that both oppose military operations without authorization from the UN Security Council, oppose attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and do not approve of the conflict spreading to the Gulf countries.

The situation in the Middle East is changing rapidly, Wang said, pointing out that both the United States and Iran are signaling their readiness to negotiate. A glimmer of hope for peace has emerged, he said.

If this war continues, it will only bring more casualties and unnecessary losses, leading to further spillover of the situation, Wang said.

Stressing that as long as there is dialogue, there is hope for peace, Wang said that the actions of the Security Council should help ease the situation and promote dialogue, and help prevent the expansion of the war instead of giving a pass to the use of force.

Noting that China supports Egypt in continuing to play a mediating role in promoting the resumption of peace talks and the cessation of the war, Wang said that China is also willing to continue with its constructive efforts to this end.

Chinese FM calls on world to promote dialogue among parties to Mideast conflict