On March 28, 2015, the session of Jointly Building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and launching ceremony of the Year of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation was held during the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2015. State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn of Thailand, and others attended and addressed the event.

Yang Jiechi noted that the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road aims to continue pushing forward the Silk Road spirit featuring peace, friendship, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit as well as the all-round maritime cooperation. China stands ready to work together with other countries to build maritime partnerships of win-win cooperation. China is ready to work with other countries to deepen mutual trust, connect development strategies, match maritime projects and intensify institutional connectivity and so that results can be gained at an early date. As this year marks the Year of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation, it is hoped that the all-dimensional maritime cooperation between China and the ASEAN will become a model for the development of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Tanasak Patimapragorn said that Thailand supports the “Belt and Road” initiative, and the ASEAN members are willing to intensify maritime cooperation with China to promote connectivity in Asia.