On 21 October, the Guangxi University China Border Economy Research Institute, Guangxi University School of Economics/China-ASEAN School of Financial Cooperation, University of International Business and Economics, Institute of International Economics, Dongxing Institute of Open Development along the Border, and other units jointly hosted the 2023 Seventh China's Border Economy and Open Development and Bozhou "Belt and Road" Forum in Bozhou, Xinjiang. The Bozhou "Belt and Road" Forum was successfully held in Bozhou, Xinjiang. The forum, themed "Deeply Integrating into the 'Belt and Road' and Promoting High-Quality Development of the Border Economy", was held against the backdrop of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Expert and scholar participants engaged in discourse on the Belt and Road Initiative. The role and experience of the construction of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative in the economic development of border areas was discussed, as well as the ways in which these areas might align with, integrate deeply into, and serve the "One Belt, One Road" initiative in the future. The experts and scholars engaged in a discussion on the role and experience of the "Belt and Road" construction project in the development of the frontier economy. They also exchanged views on the ways in which the region could connect with the "Belt and Road", integrate deeply into the "Belt and Road" project, and serve the "Belt and Road" in the future.




Opening of the Forum
The forum extended an invitation to Mr. Qian Keming, a Standing Committee Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Deputy Director of the Committee on Education, Science and Health, and the Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, Zheng Xinli, and the Former Deputy Director of the Central Policy Research Office, Also in attendance were Wang Naixue, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi University; Bayin Kexi, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Boluo Mongol Autonomous Prefecture and Governor of Xinjiang; and representatives from the Ministry of Commerce. Also in attendance were representatives from the General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Finance, the Development Research Center of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Belt and Road Construction Promotion Center, the China Society for International Economic Cooperation, the China Policy Science Research Society, and the Central Party School. The Academy of Social Sciences and other state ministries, high-end think tanks, institutions of higher learning, as well as leaders, experts and scholars from Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Gansu and other border provinces and municipal units, numbering over 120, were in attendance at the meeting. The opening ceremony was overseen by Du Yingkun, the deputy governor of Bozhou People's Government. The opening ceremony featured remarks from several distinguished guests, including Qian Keming, deputy director of the Committee on Education, Science and Health and standing committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as well as Wang Naixue, vice chairman of the CPPCC of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and party secretary of Guangxi University. Additionally, Bayin Kexi, governor of the Xinjiang Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, delivered remarks.
In his speech, Mr. Qian Keming highlighted the significant achievements of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative over the past decade. He emphasised the creation of a vast platform for international collaboration and the advancement of China's border regions through this initiative. The 7th Forum on Border Economy, Openness and Development, held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of "One Belt, One Road", is of great significance. It provides experience and reference for the promotion of high-level opening up and modernisation of border areas, the creation of a new situation of border research with Chinese characteristics, the improvement of border governance in the new era, and the realisation of national security, national unity, stability of the border and openness and development. The conference will provide valuable insights and case studies that can inform the realisation of national security, national unity, border stability and open development. Mr. Qian Keming highlighted that, as the frontline of global integration, border regions bear a distinctive responsibility in the contemporary era. They must devise innovative approaches to economic development, integrating Xi Jinping's Economic Thought, fostering collaboration with neighbouring countries, and leveraging scientific and technological advancements to drive growth. In conclusion, Mr. Qian Keming expressed his hope that through this forum, all parties will unite their strengths and wisdom, provide new ideas and contribute new strengths for the open development of the frontier economy and the prosperity and stability of the frontier region under the new situation, and promote the construction of a theoretical system of frontier economics, which will guide the development of the frontier economy.
In his speech, Vice Chairman Wang Naixue highlighted the significance of holding the 7th Forum on the Open Development of Border Economy against the backdrop of the 10th anniversary of the "Belt and Road" initiative. He emphasised the importance of a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the "Belt and Road" on the economic development of border regions over the past decade. As one of the nine border provinces in China, Guangxi must continue to implement the spirit of the important instructions set forth by General Secretary Xi Jinping, with the goal of promoting the high-quality development of border ethnic areas. Guangxi University, the sole institution of higher education in Guangxi to be designated as a 211 Project university, places particular emphasis on two distinctive characteristics: those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and of frontier nationalities. It has a strong commitment to the internationalisation of its development strategy, which is based on the principle of "cultivating ASEAN and facing the world". This strategy is designed to facilitate the growth of ASEAN and to contribute to the development of the wider global community. The university has integrated into the Belt and Road initiative and implemented an internationalised development strategy, namely "cultivating ASEAN and facing the world." It has also highlighted the characteristics of border ethnicity, cultivated a research team on border economics, and conducted in-depth research on the laws governing border economic development and the issues it presents. This has provided intellectual and human capital support for the development of Guangxi's open economy in the new era. Mr. Wang Naixue, vice chairman of the forum, expressed his hope that the forum would play a more prominent role in the construction of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. He also emphasized the importance of promoting the development of border areas to enhance the well-being of local communities and facilitate the high-quality growth of the regional economy. Additionally, he underscored the necessity of aligning theoretical insights with practical applications in the field of border economic development.The "One Belt, One Road" initiative represents a significant opportunity to advance the development of frontier economic think tanks, which can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of global economic policy.
In his speech, Bayin Kexi, Governor of the State, identified the "Belt and Road" economic belt as an important node of Xinjiang Bozhou. He further stated that the frontier economy open development forum, held by Bozhou, would serve as a valuable learning, exchange, display, and development platform. The forum will facilitate discourse on the advancement of a high-quality frontier economy, the establishment of a coordinated development strategy for frontier economic regions, the dissemination of findings from frontier economic development initiatives, and the advancement of the frontier region's opening up. This will be achieved through the promotion of green, clean, high-standard, and high-quality sustainable development, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the well-being of the region's inhabitants. Additionally, the forum will enhance interaction and exchanges between the various ethnic groups in the frontier region, thereby reinforcing the sense of community within the Chinese nation. In conclusion, he expressed his sincere hope that all present would have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Bozhou, to disseminate information about it more widely, and to participate in the sharing of development opportunities.





Forum keynote presentations
Mr. Zheng Xinli, former Deputy Director of the Central Policy Research Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Mr. Du Yingkun, Deputy Governor of the People's Government of Bozhou, delivered keynote speeches. Deputy Director Zheng Xinli pointed out in his report that the Belt and Road Initiative, as a model of world economic cooperation, has had a profound impact on the process of economic globalization, and has been deeply connected with the development strategies of various countries, forming a new platform and mechanism for international economic cooperation. “The Belt and Road Initiative is a major initiative to implement the building of a community of human destiny and three major global initiatives. The great achievements of the “Belt and Road” construction have brought major opportunities for Xinjiang's development. Looking back on the ten years of “Belt and Road” construction, the achievements have been brilliant, and it has become an important force in promoting the open development of the global economy and maintaining regional peace and stability. Du Yingkun, vice governor of the state, pointed out in the report that the 7th China Border Economy Open Development and Bozhou “One Belt, One Road” Forum was held to boost Bozhou's confidence and determination to do a good job of opening up to the outside world and promoting the high-quality development of the economy, and to enhance Bozhou's sense of responsibility and determination to integrate into and serve the construction of the “One Belt, One Road”. It also strengthened Bozhou's sense of responsibility and mission to integrate into and serve the construction of “Belt and Road”. Du Yingkun, vice governor of Bozhou, also focused on the theme of Bozhou's contribution to the construction of “One Belt, One Road”, and put forward the “Bozhou Program” for the opening up and development of the border area from the perspective of strengthening the political role and serving the national strategy, giving full play to the advantages of the location and opening up the Euro-Asian corridor, as well as gathering the advantages of the platform and collaborating with the development of the integrated program. Bozhou Program”.
The theme report of the conference was overseen by Xia Guo'en, vice dean of Guangxi University, and experts including Sang Baichuan, Wang Yijun, Lv Kejian, Hu Lujin, Yu Xiaofeng, Ma Youjun and Li Guanghui, among others. The forum focused on the theme of the forum and featured reports on a range of topics, including "Domestic and International Economic Environment Changes and Border Economy Development," "Deeply Integrating into the Construction of 'One Belt and One Road' to Promote High-quality Development of Border Economy," "The Current Situation of Economic Development of China's Border Areas under the New Circumstances and Thoughts on Future Development," and other reports..
From macro to micro, from theory to practice, from strategy to policy, from the international situation to the economic development of the frontier, the participants engaged in a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the economic development of border and frontier areas. The experts concurred that the forum's convening provided crucial theoretical references and practical applications, which will inform the systematic opening up and high-quality development of the frontier areas.





Forum launch
The forum released the results of the China Institute of Border Economy of Guangxi University, entitled "2023 Annual Report on China's Border Economy and Open Development". It also held a ceremony for the establishment of the Professional Committee of Border Economy and Cooperation of the China Society for International Economic Cooperation. In a formal ceremony, Dean Gao Yuanyuan presented Dean Li Guanghui with an appointment letter, appointing him as part-time vice dean of CIEC and director of the Professional Committee on Border Economy and Cooperation.
Concurrently, the forum, comprising Guangxi University School of Economics (China Border Economy Research Institute), Liaoning University Center for Russian and Mongolian Studies, Yunnan University School of Ethnology and Sociology, Yanbian University Korean Peninsula Research Institute, Heilongjiang University School of Economics and Business Administration, and Inner Mongolia University School of Economics and Management, among others, collectively established the "Border Economy University Think Tank Alliance.".




Forum High-Level Dialogue
In the high-end dialogue session of the sub-forum, the participating experts and scholars initiated comprehensive exchanges and discussions on three topics: "The 10th Anniversary of 'One Belt, One Road' and the Development of Border Economy," "Innovative Development of Border Economy in the Age of Digitalization," and "Cooperation with Neighboring Countries in the New Situation." The experts and scholars of the forum commenced in-depth exchanges and discussions on the three themes of "Economic Development of Border Areas and Cooperation with Neighbouring Countries under the New Circumstances" and "Round-table Discussions". Furthermore, the forum held a roundtable discussion meeting, during which the participating leaders and experts focused on the promotion of Bozhou's open economy development, and presented suggestions and recommendations for the economic development of Bozhou.


Closing summary
The 2023 forum is being organised by the China Society for International Economic Cooperation, the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, the Institute of Regional and Country Studies of Peking University, and the Center for East Asian Studies of Renmin University of China. Prior to this, the Forum on Open Development of China's Border Economy has been successfully held on six occasions. It has attracted an increasing number of government policymakers, academic resources and research personnel, and has served to inform national strategies and local development practices. It has also become an important research platform for the high-quality development of the border and an exchange platform for communication between the central ministries and commissions and the border cities and municipalities.
Written by: Qin Cheng, Wu Hao
Translated by: Miao Lu
Edited by: Li Yangyang