Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), called for efforts to strengthen cooperation in key development initiatives at the 2021 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo Theme Forum, which opened on Sept 24 in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. 

During his speech at the opening ceremony, Leung said the Belt and Road Initiative embodies the spirit of peace, cooperation, mutual benefit and a win-win approach while also bringing together historical legacies, cultures, trade, vision and development paths. 

Leung said he hopes more efforts will be made to advance exchanges, support collaborative projects, and create more fruitful outcomes that benefit people along the Maritime Silk Road. He called on all parties to deepen cooperation in the initiative, reinforce the foundation for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and build high-quality overseas economic and trade cooperation zones. 

Lu Pengqi, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and Wen Guohui, mayor of Guangzhou, also delivered speeches at the event. Speakers also included Vladimir Imamovich Norov, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama, and Malaysian Ambassador to China Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin. 

The forum included one main forum, five panel discussions and four sideline events that covered topics including international trade, tech innovation and sustainable development.