2023 Euro-Asia Economic Forum to be Held in Xi'an from September 22 to 24

Press Conference Scene

On September 1, a press conference for the 2023 Euro-Asia Economic Forum was held in Beijing. Ye Niuping, Mayor of Xi'an, Deputy Director of the Forum's Organizing Committee, and Secretary General of the Forum, shared the key highlights and contents of the upcoming forum. Huang Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of CPC Xi'an Municipal Committee, Deputy Mayor of Xi'an, and Deputy Secretary General of the Forum, provided an overview of the city's preparations and organizational efforts.

This year's Forum will be held in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest China, from September 22 to 24. Themed "Create Opportunities for Cooperation and Seek Future Development," the Forum is committed to collaborating with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), serving the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), implementing the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit, and promoting local economic development. Among the distinguished guests invited to the forum are high-level leaders, minister-level officials, local governors from member states, observer states and dialogue partners of the SCO, countries involved in the BRI, and relevant countries in West and South Asia. Other prominent guests in attendance include representatives from important international organizations, diplomatic envoys from relevant countries, delegates from domestic and foreign sister cities, persons in charge from well-known multinational corporations, as well as esteemed experts and scholars.

This year's Forum is centered on the implementation of the BRI and the Xi'an Declaration of the China-Central Asia Summit. Its overall framework follows a "1+13+1" model. The "1" in the "1+13+1" model represents the opening ceremony and concurrent plenary session, which is the highest-level activity of the forum, serving as an important part of China's overall diplomatic efforts. The "13" refers to the thirteen sub-events focusing on policy communication, financial cooperation, economic and trade exchanges, science and technology innovation, ecological conservation, culture and tourism development, and people-to-people exchanges, among others. These sub-events aim to foster consensus building among participating parties and facilitate practical cooperation in relevant sectors. The last "1" represents the 2023 EAEF Economic & Trade Cooperation Expo and China (Shaanxi) Import & Export Commodities Exhibition. This expo plays a crucial role in continuously amplifying the achievements of the China-Central Asia Summit. By adopting a model that emphasizes the interplay between the expo and the forum, the expo aims to help enterprises explore market potential, expand exchanges, and foster cooperation.

Huang Qiang emphasized that this year's Forum is a significant milestone. It is a crucial global conference held against the backdrop of several important events. The Forum is organized in the initial year of fully implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the proposal of the BRI, and the successful first China-Central Asia Summit. Moreover, the Forum also signifies the tenth session since its establishment in 2005. Compared to previous ones, this year's Forum features a more distinctive theme, practical content, prominent brand features, and optimized mechanisms and models. Currently, preparations for the 2023 Euro-Asia Economic Forum are progressing smoothly and in a well-coordinated manner, to make it a high-end, pragmatic, and streamlined international event.