Opinion | Strengthening cooperation with neighbouring countries is important for China to enhance development resilience

At the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), which ended last week, Thailand was the guest country of honour, while East China's Shandong Province and South China's Guangdong Province were the guest provinces of honour. A series of activities related to neighbouring countries were also organized during the expo.

In an interview with China Youth Daily, Cai Tongjuan, Director of the Macro Research Department and Research Fellow of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies (RDCY), analyzed that strengthening cooperation with neighbouring countries and promoting regional integration is an important strategy for China to enhance development resilience in the current complex international situation.

Cai explained in detail that economic and trade ties with regional countries such as ASEAN and RCEP members should be strengthened, and trade and investment liberalization and facilitation promoted to build a closer regional supply chain network.

Cai also suggested that China should use platforms such as the CISCE to expand cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy and green development to improve the quality and level of regional cooperation.

"At the same time, we should strengthen the construction of interconnected infrastructure, promote the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative with surrounding development strategies, and reinforce regional connectivity. By coordinating institutions and innovating mechanisms, China can stabilize and drive regional cooperation, cope with external uncertainties together, and lay a solid foundation for regional prosperity," Cai said. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)