On 22 December 2020, China (Hainan) - ASEAN 2020 Think Tank Forum co-hosted by National Institute for South China Sea Studies(NISCSS), Hainan Federation of Social Science Associations (HFSSA) and Hainan Academy of Social Sciences (HASS) was held in Haikou.  

The theme of the forum is “To Integrate into the Greater Bay Area and Connect with Southeast Asia: Ideas and Paths for Hainan Free Trade Port Participating in the Dual Circulation Strategy”. Dr. Wu Shicun, President of NISCSS, Mr. Zhong Yechang, President of HFSSA&HASS and Mr. Zhang Huaihai, Deputy Head of Publicity Department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, delivered welcome remarks respectively in the opening ceremony. Prof. Chi Fulin, President of China Institute for Reform and Development, Mr. Jusuf Wanandi, Cofounder of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia, Prof. Fan Zuojun, Vice President of Guangxi University, Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow of Singapore Institute of International Affairs and Dr. Zhu Huayou, Research Fellow of China Institute for Free Trade Ports Studies with Chinese Characteristics delivered their keynote speeches at forum.

Dr. Wu Shicun, President of NISCSS delivered opening remarks

In his speech, Dr. Wu Shicun pointed out that the cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in a wide range of fields has been continuously deepened, especially this year's economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN is faring exceptionally well. Due to Covid-19 and the trend of de-globalization, the cooperation between China and ASEAN countries encountered challenges of hindered people-to-people exchanges and turbulence of South China Sea issue. Therefore, Dr. Wu Shicun put forward proposals on deepening the China-ASEAN and Hainan-ASEAN cooperation in the new era: seizing the opportunity after signing RCEP, we should continue to push forward the cooperation in various fields such as industry, economy and trade under the framework of the 21st Maritime Silk Road; exchanges between think tanks should lead support for decision-making, engagement with media, policy communication and consensus building between China and ASEAN; cooperation on the sea in low sensitive fields such as marine scientific research and regional marine environmental governance under the DOC framework needs to be implemented in a concrete manner. In the end, Dr. Wu Shicun also suggested that Hainan free trade port should become a new platform for China-ASEAN cooperation, so as to make Hainan an important hub and connection between the economic hinterland of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area and the large market of ASEAN.

Mr. Zhong Yechang, President of HFSSA&HASS delivered opening remarks

Mr. Zhong Yechang reviewed the development history of China（Hainan）- ASEAN Think Tank Forum. He believed that this forum played an important role in promoting the integration of China-ASEAN into the Belt and Road Initiative construction and enhancing bilateral economic, social and cultural exchanges and cooperation under the background of the 10th anniversary of comprehensive establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the starting year of Hainan Free Trade Port construction. Under the new circumstances, Mr. Zhong Yechang hopes that through the China (Hainan) - ASEAN Think Tank Forum, we can innovate the think tank cooperation mode, establish a normalized cooperation mechanism, deepen the exchange and cooperation between think tanks at home and abroad, and give full play to the intellectual advantages of think tanks by focusing on the new development pattern, enhance the public diplomacy function and promote people-to-people exchanges through think tank communication, strengthen dialogue and cooperation and integrate advantageous resources to make contributions for the theoretical research of China (Hainan) - ASEAN relations, so as to promote the sound development of bilateral relations.

Mr. Zhang Huaihai, Deputy Head of Publicity Department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee delivered opening remarks

Mr. Zhang Huaihai said in his speech that exchanges and cooperation between think tanks have played an important role as a bridge, link and platform for promoting China-ASEAN and Hainan-ASEAN cooperation and development. The construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port is a major reform and opening up initiative which is put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping who has planned, deployed and promoted it by himself and a strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee in the light of the overall situation of China and the international community to push forward the innovation and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The construction of Hainan Free Trade Port not only provides "new impetus" to the construction of China-ASEAN community of shared future, but also puts forward higher requirements for think tank exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. He hoped that both China and ASEAN can make good use of the important platform of think tanks, form a fixed exchange mechanism, continuously carry out in-depth think tank exchanges around major issues of common concern, and strive for more and better cooperation results.

Prof. Chi Fulin, President of China Institute for Reform and Development delivered keynote speech

This one-day forum was attended by more than 100 experts and scholars from 7 countries and regions offline and online. Delegates held in-depth discussions and exchanges on issues such as "China-ASEAN Maritime Economic Cooperation: Current Situation and the Future" and "Hainan Free Trade Port Development under the RCEP."

During the meeting, President Wu Shicun was interviewed on some hot issues concerned by the media