The China-Kazakhstan Logistics Cooperation Base, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has witnessed growing business cooperation between the two nations.
Opened in 2014, the base has handled over 500,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo through direct China-Europe freight trains over the past decade.
The railway link between east China's Lianyungang port and Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, has helped to improve trade.
Azilkhan Bedelov from Kazakhstan's capital of Astana has been working at the China-Kazakhstan logistics base since 2017.
"Kazakhstan is an inland nation. It has no access to the sea. Now the railway provides a good option," said Bedelov, who is the deputy general manager of China-Kazakhstan International Logistics Company now.
The logistics base facilitates bilateral trade, allowing products from countries like South Korea and Japan to be exported to Kazakhstan, and for Kazakhstan's products to go abroad.
"Most products are general goods and machinery equipment from China, and vehicles in transit," said Ge Hengxue, general manager of China-Kazakhstan International Logistics Company.
Last year, a system was introduced allowing processes to be updated in real time at the cargo departure point and destination.
"If there were no such system, the Kazakhstan side would not know the trains and containers were shipped on time. There would be a lag," said Cheng Fei, dispatch team leader of the company.
The streamlined trade route now shortens the transportation time from Lianyungang to Kazakhstan's largest city of Almaty to just 6.5 days.
China-Kazakhstan logistics center boosts business cooperation in decade
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
