With the theme of "Jiangxi Opening-up, Green Silk Road", the Jiangxi Day was inaugurated in the China Pavilion at Astana Expo on August 10.

Officials attending and addressing the opening ceremony included Chen Zhou, vice-chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Li Yihuang, deputy governor of Jiangxi province, Liu Jiangping, Charge d'affaires of Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan, Talgat Doskenov, vice-chairman of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NCE), Aidyn Bayedilov, general director of the Kazakhstan Investment Cooperation Agency, and Rustemov Ruslan Rustemovich, deputy head of Kyzylorda region.

More than 150 people including officials, advisers and business executives from Kazakhstan, pavilion representatives from other countries, officials from relevant departments of China and Kazakhstan, and representatives of Chinese and Kazakhstan's entrepreneurs also attended the ceremony.

Chen Zhou, vice-chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), delivers a speech.

Chen Zhou said that China and Kazakhstan has a solid friendship. China's participation in the expo is conducive to promoting development and cooperation on economics and trade, culture and tourism between China and Kazakhstan, which is significant in fostering comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Jiangxi is located in the southeastern part of China. As a region comprising of an important part of the Yangtze River economic zone, it has favorable conditions such as an abundance of water resources and sound industrial foundation. Chen said that he believes there will be closer economic and trade ties between the two nations, along with the opening for service of the freight trains of Ganzhou (Jiangxi) - Kazakhstan. As he said, he hopes that Jiangxi will further expand pragmatic cooperation with Kazakhstan and the neighboring countries, and contribute more to the construction of Belt and Road Initiative.

Li Yihuang, deputy governor of Jiangxi province, delivers a speech.

Li Yihuang gave a brief introduction of Jiangxi and its efforts to the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. He said that Jiangxi has favorable conditions such as beautiful natural scenery, unique cultural resources, prominent industrial advantages, and strong development momentum. With green ecology being its biggest advantage, Jiangxi has made opening-up and cooperation its key engines to get involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Jiangxi will strengthen cooperation and exchanges with other countries to achieve mutual benefits through the event.

Liu Jiangping, Charge d'affaires of Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan, delivers a speech.

"All of the instruments used for performance at the opening ceremony are from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province. The performances and the musical instruments complement to constitute a beautiful Chinese painting, which embodies the connotation and implication of Chinese culture," Liu Jiangping said in her speech.

She pointed out that the region possesses many historical sites and has nurtured a large number of wise ancestors. In addition to its long history and unique culture, Jiangxi has comprehensive economic industries, environmentally friendly development concepts, convenient transportation networks and an open cooperation pattern. The promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China Pavilion and the launching of the event will provide a better platform and opportunities for more cooperation between the two nations.

Talgat Doskenov, vice-chairman of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NCE), delivers a speech.

Doskenov said that Jiangxi's promotional film arouses people's yearning and expectation for visiting Jiangxi, and their performance at the opening ceremony was outstanding. He hopes that there will be further cooperation on new energy fields including water, solar, wind and other areas between Jiangxi and Kazakhstan. He firmly believes that the performance will be a prelude towards a new stage of cooperation between the two sides.

Aidyn Bayedilov, general director of the Kazakhstan Investment Cooperation Agency, delivers a speech.

Aidyn Bayedilov thanked the China Pavilion for its contribution to the Astana Expo. He said that Kazakhstan and China have gained many achievements beyond expectation. Kazakhstan's unique investment environment makes it an important country entering the European and Asian markets. He said that he hopes Kazakhstan will strengthen cooperation with Jiangxi in agriculture and other fields. In addition, he revealed that in October this year, representatives from Kazakhstan will visit some of China’s provinces and cities, promoting more pragmatic economic and trade cooperation.

Rustemov Ruslan Rustemovich, deputy head of Kyzylorda region, delivers a speech.

Rustemov said that Jiangxi is one of China's major economic provinces, and Kyzylorda region also attaches great importance to economic development. Kyzylorda has favorable geographical conditions, developed metallurgical industries and an abundance of mineral resources. He hopes that the two regions will deepen economic and trade cooperation through the activity.

During the event, several cooperation agreements have been signed, including agreements between Jiangxi CCPIT and Kazakhstan Investment Cooperation Agency, agreement between Jiangxi Zhongmei Engineering Group Ltd and a construction company from Kazakhstan, and agreement between an industrial company from Nanchang and a company from Kazakhstan.

An economic and trade matchmaking meeting was also held during the event. This is the first time Jiangxi has held such a high-level economic and trade matchmaking activity in Kazakhstan. By now, the China Pavilion has held 16 provincial and municipal events and five corporate activities, and seven other provincial and municipal events, while three corporate activities is set to be held later. This is the first time China has participated in the expo with the inclusion of numerous provinces and cities.

Shu Huan, curator of the China Pavilion, Yao Rui, executive director of the China Pavilion, and Yao Lujie, deputy minister of the exhibition department of China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), attended the opening ceremony.