On November 21, 2022, a roundtable of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Corridor Governors Forum 2022 organized by the Yunnan provincial government was held in Kunming, China, bringing together an international panel from governments, academia and relevant sectors for discussions on the economic integration, prosperity, sustainable and inclusive development in the GMS and beyond. An expert committee of the Governors Forum was established at the meeting, which was structured in two sessions themed “New Development Dynamics for GMS Cooperation” and “How to Better Align Institutional and Non-Institutional Cooperation for a More Sustainable Belt and Road.”

Zhang Lirong, Secretary General of China Forum, Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University, was invited to attend the roundtable and moderate the second session. In his remarks, Zhang noted that the steady growth of the GMS economic cooperation has garnered practical outcomes over the past 30 years, and highlighted the significance of the RCEP in reshaping global economy as it has facilitated positive and win-win interaction among emerging and developed economies by attending to their respective interests, which marks a big step forward for economic integration in the Asia Pacific.

Zhang also pointed out that amid the complex and challenging international situation with increasing economic uncertainties, China will speed up its efforts toward a new development paradigm through a high level of openness and growth as well as active international cooperation, so that it may create fresh development opportunities for all countries, including those in the GMS, and contribute to regional stability, world peace, and the recovery and growth of the global economy.