Economy and Business

New group to promote cooperation in Asia

By Li Yingqing and Guo Anfei (China Daily Yunnan Bureau)
Updated: 2010-06-21 17:55

The Dianchi cooperation for opening Asia (DCOA) will be held in Kunming from July 25 to 27.

With "connecting Pan-Asia, creating win-wins by opening up to each other and scientific development" as its ultimate purpose, and with "open thoroughfares, easy customs clearance and comprehensive cooperation" as the theme of its first meeting, DCOA will focus on construction of international thoroughfares that connect China with Southeast Asia and South Asia and link the Pacific Ocean with India Ocean.

DCOA aims to promote the construction of an important bridgehead for China's opening-up toward its southwest neighbors and to deepen cooperation among China, Southeast Asia and South Asia in transportation, logistics, trade and investment.

As a time-fixed cooperation mechanism with unique features, it will be a high-level, open, regional, venue and time specific, and permanent platform for government officials, business leaders and academics from 19 countries, including China, ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia，Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and SAARC members (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Maldives) as well as from Northeast Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East, South Europe, North Africa and East Africa to conduct exchanges and dialogues on the promotion of cooperation.

Yunnan is geographically in the very center of Asia with a border of more than 4,000 kilometers and is adjacent to two huge markets. Yunnan in general and Kunming in particular has the advantage of being a land gateway for remote China's economic link to Southeast Asia and South Asia.