China-Caribbean economic forum to bring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation: official

The Ministerial Conference of the fourth China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, set to be held in south China's island province of Hainan, will bring new opportunities for economic and trade cooperation between China and Caribbean countries by spotlighting cooperation in emerging areas, an official with the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

At a press conference in Beijing, Lin Feng, Director General of the American and Oceania Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce, announced that the conference, co-hosted by the ministry and the Hainan provincial government, will be held in Qionghai City from Sept. 12 to 14.

This event will bring new opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Caribbean countries and inject fresh momentum into the economic development of the participating countries, the official noted.

"This conference will focus on cooperation in emerging areas and explore green, low-carbon, and digital technologies to bring new opportunities and models for China-Caribbean economic and trade cooperation, better empowering the cooperation. It will also support Caribbean countries in better implementing the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Lin said.

"We welcome Caribbean countries to present their policies and visions for developing green, blue, and digital economies, and to jointly explore new approaches for high-quality cooperation between China and the Caribbean," he said.

The China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum mechanism was established in 2004. Aimed at promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and the Caribbean for mutual development, this forum serves as the highest-level inter-governmental economic and trade dialogue mechanism between China and Caribbean countries.

To date, three sessions have been held: in Jamaica in 2005, in Xiamen City in east China's Fujian Province in 2007, and in Trinidad and Tobago in 2011.

China-Caribbean economic forum to bring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation: official

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The high-speed railway connecting east China's Hangzhou City of Zhejiang Province and Hong Kong was put into use on Sunday, cutting travel time between the two cities to below seven hours.   Departing from Hangzhou West Station at 15:10 BJT, the G99 train passes six stations before arriving at 21:56 BJT at West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong. Passengers only need to scan their Exit and Entry Permit at the station to finish cross-boundary inspection.   "It takes just over six hours to arrive in Hong Kong, which is not that long. I have my Hong Kong-Macao Entry-Exit Permit, and all I need is to scan it on the machine over the counter," said Jin Siyu, a traveler taking the first train.   To further facilitate travelers on the route, Hangzhou West Station now allows passengers to extend their Entry-Exit Permit with self-service machines.

"It takes around two to three minutes to finish (the extension) on this machine. But we can only provide extension services," said Chen Na, a staff member at the police station at Hangzhou West Station Hub, under the Yuhang District branch of Hangzhou City Public Security.

Railway connecting Hangzhou and Hong Kong begins operation