The "Think Tank Plus" dialogue of the International Forum on the Belt and Road Port was held in Tianjin on Dec 6. Politicians, entrepreneurs and experts from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Egypt and United Arab Emirates discussed the port cities' cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the initiative's effect on the open world economy.

The "Think Tank Plus" dialogue of the Belt and Road Initiative international port cities forum [Photo/enorth.com.cn]

The former president of Thailand's National Assembly Bhokin Bhalakula thinks that port cities are the pillar of international trade development, as 80 percent of freight transport moves by water. Promotion of communication and cooperation between port cities is consequently an important practical step.

Guests discuss the Belt and Road Initiative [Photo/enorth.com.cn]

A politician from Egypt said he believes that more projects such as the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone should be developed to strengthen cooperation among countries along the Belt and Road.

The Egyptian guest speaks at the forum. [Photo/enorth.com.cn]

Zhang Daqian, senior vice president of DP World, hopes that his company will get more development work from the Belt and Road Initiative.

Zhang Daqian, senior vice president of DP World shares his view at the forum. [Photo/enorth.com.cn]

Sheng Bin is the dean of the school of economics of Nankai University and the deputy director of the China Free Trade Zone Research Center. He thinks that developing countries should maintain their cooperation and steady growth of their economies at a time of global economic downturn.

The dean of the school of economics of Nankai University and the deputy director of the China Free Trade Zone Research Center, Sheng Bin [Photo/enorth.com.cn]