The 8^th China (Sichuan) – South Asia Economic and Trade Cooperation Round-table Conference is to be Held in Chengdu on September 13-15, 2017. The conference is jointly hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Sichuan Provincial People’s Government and SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and undertaken by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Sichuan Council. Theme of the conference is the cooperation and exchange in three major areas, including smart city construction, hi-tech agriculture and food processing, and youth innovation, under the background of “The Belt and Road Initiative”. Altogether more than 300 attendants, including leaders of Chamber of Commerce & Industry and enterprise representatives of 8 SAARC members (Pakistan, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka), officers of SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry, officers of embassy and consulate of SAARC members in China, officers of South Asia National Investment Council, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, leaders of Sichuan Provincial Government, responsible persons of Sichuan Provincial Department of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs, Sichuan Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture, Sichuan Provincial Department of Technology, National Development Bank Sichuan Branch and Sichuan University, as well as enterprise representatives from Sichuan will attend the conference.

By now, more than 60 representatives from SAARC, including Nepalese ambassador to China, Chairman of SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chairman of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Pakistan, Pakistan Steel, entrepreneurs of automobile industry and executive member of SAARC Youth Entrepreneur Forum, have confirmed to attend the conference.

The round-table conference will be held in parallel with the Special Promotion Conference of South Asian Countries, South Asia-Sichuan Matchmaking Consultation and Internal Work Conference of Chamber of Commerce & Industry. After the round-table conference, officers of embassies and consulates of South Asia to China, leaders of Chamber of Commerce & Industry and enterprise representatives attending the conference will visit Deyang to jointly host China (Deyang)-South Asia National Economy and Trade Promotion Conference with Deyang Municipal Government.