Zhuhai attracts global experts to discuss wider communication

Zhuhai in South China's Guangdong province is set to host the third 21st Century Maritime Silk Road China (Guangdong) International Communication Forum from Oct 21 to 23, gathering hundreds of experts from across the world to share their insights into international communication.

Lin Ji, deputy director of the forum's preparatory committee and deputy secretary-general of the Guangdong government, said this year's forum has four focuses - construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, building up of increased international communication capacity, and development of media integration.

Besides the main forum, the event will include three sub-forums covering external communication in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, media integration and innovation, and shaping cities' image under the BRI.

Influential industry professionals will be invited to events in universities to discuss the promotion of Zhuhai's image to the public, organizers said.

The forum never fails to pull in heavyweights from within China and around the world.

This year the forum has invited some 300 guests, including the 2015 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences winner Angus S. Deaton, founder of the Europe-China Forum David Gosset, Chairman of the China Reform Foundation Fan Gang, and President of the China Institute for Reform and Development Chi Fulin.

Min Yuntong, deputy head of the publicity department of the CPC Zhuhai committee, said: "A host of deals will be signed during the forum. For instance, Zhuhai Media Group will sign strategic cooperation agreements with Macao Commercial Post Media Group, Teledifus de Macao S.A. and Macao Cable Television."

There were 49 distinguished guests that attended the first forum, including former vice-minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former deputy director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council He Yafei, Chairman of Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Bernard Dewit, Chairman of the Europe China One Belt and One Road Culture & Tourism Development Committee Ujhelyi Istv��n and founder of the Schiller Institute Helga Zepp-LaRouche.

The second forum saw an increase in the number of such distinguished guests.

The attendee list included former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, 2011 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences winner Thomas Sargent, vice president of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and academician Nancy Y Ip.

In the previous two sessions, the forum released an annual report detailing the achievements of enterprises in Guangdong going global.

In recent years, Zhuhai has tried to make itself a place known for social and cultural exchanges.

In April, a total of 86 young people from China, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam started a 13-day tour of China from Zhuhai.

They were participants in the second "Belt and Road Hand in Hand" China Tour by 10 Countries' Teenagers.

In September, Zhuhai welcomed 108 young music lovers from 25 countries and regions for the third Zhuhai Mozart Competition for Young Musicians.

Many of them were from countries along the Belt and Road, such as Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia and Romania.

The southern coastal city's reputation for hospitality is improving.

Zhuhai will host the sixth China International Circus Festival from Nov 16 to 23, where spectators will be entertained by a variety of circus performances by troupes from BRI countries, organizers said.