The Belt and Road Global Chambers of Commerce and Associations Conference (GCCAC) was held in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, on Wednesday, gathering global entrepreneurs and leaders of business associations to share opinions about industry trends and experiences on issues such as economic and trade exchanges among countries and regions and sustainable development under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since its launch 10 years ago.

Lin Baojin, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Fujian Provincial Committee and secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee; Qiu Xiaoping, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC); Cheng Qingmin, member of the editorial board and secretary general of People's Daily; Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, governor of the Edo State of Nigeria; and Nia Niscaya, main expert of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia attended the opening ceremony and gave speeches. A number of Chinese officials, dignitaries and ambassadors from BRI partner countries in Asia, Africa and Europe also participated in the conference.

The GCCAC is the world's first international cooperation and exchange platform with chambers of commerce, industry associations and other social organizations as the main participants. 

With more countries and regions participating in the conference and sharing win-win cooperation opportunities and achievements, it has grown into an influential international business event. This year's  conference was attended by more than 1,000 guests from more than 200 business associations from over 30 countries and regions, including the US, Singapore and Italy.

African countries are important partners and active participants in the BRI. During the conference, several African countries, including the Gabonese Republic, and China jointly launched the African Digital Procurement Service Platform Cooperation Initiative, which serves as a tool to further promote win-win cooperation among BRI partner countries.

In addition, more than 10 guests from BRI partner countries held two dialogues on the topic of realizing interconnectivity in multiple areas for high-quality BRI cooperation, sharing the results and feelings as the BRI has evolved from ideas into action and from a vision into reality.

On the same day, the GCCAC held seven sub-forums focusing on China-Africa economic cooperation, China-Indonesia investment and digital economy collaboration, establishing a bridge of friendship for all participants to explore new cooperation opportunities and enhance exchanges. 

The GCCAC is guided by the People's Daily and ACFIC, and hosted by the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government, the Global Times, Fujian Federation of Commerce and Industry, Administrative Committee of the Fuzhou New Area and the Administrative Committee of the Fuzhou Area of China Pilot Free Trade Zone. It is organized by the Global Times Online, the Information Office of the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government and the Fuzhou Federation of Industry and Commerce.