The role of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in China's Belt and Road Initiative will be highlighted at the ninth Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum that opens on Thursday in Nanning, the capital.

The event is an international forum that aims to promote economic development among China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and to boost cooperation among the countries in Pan-Beibu Gulf region.

The theme of this year's forum is "Cooperation in the Pan-Beibu Gulf and together building the Belt and Road".

"China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have started comprehensive cooperation with the Sino-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Guangxi," said Peng Qinghua, Party chief of the autonomous region.

"We call this the Guangxi Channel, and it has become one of the most important and most fruitful cooperation channels between China and ASEAN," Peng said.

This year's forum will advance the connections among port cities in China and ASEAN countries and push forward Sino-ASEAN land and maritime cooperation.

It will also look to boost Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation and the construction of the Sino-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor.

The Beibu Gulf is a half-closed peninsular in the northwest area of the South China Sea, linking Guangxi, Hainan province and Vietnam, and Guangxi aims to be a vital bridge connecting the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

Li Yanqiang, deputy director of the administrative committee of the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone said compared with the previous forums, the forum this year has a more specific focus and a more practical agenda: It will demonstrate the important role Guangxi plays in the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to establish six major economic corridors, including a Sino-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor.

"The ninth Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum will be an important platform for the promotion of the Pan-Beibu Gulf Cooperation, and the forum will boost the influence of Guangxi, and definitely deepen Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation," said Zhang Xiaoqin, vice-chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum has been held eight times since 2006.

It is sponsored by China's National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, Development Research Center of the State Council, National Tourism Administration, People's Bank of China, China Development Bank, and the governments of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Hainan province, as well as Thailand's Ministry of Commerce and the Asian Development Bank.

Forum spotlights region's mutual growth, collaboration with ASEAN economies

First Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum (2006)

Together Push Sino-ASEAN Development

1. Future development of Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation

2. Establish a Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation mechanism

3. Start and implement a Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation

Second Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum (2007)

Together Push Sino-ASEAN Development - New Platform, New Opportunities, New Development

1. Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation and the construction of the Sino-ASEAN Free Trade Area

2. Mechanism, industry development and financial support for Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation

3. Pan-Beibu Gulf transportation, port and tourism cooperation.

Third Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum (2008)

Together Push Sino-ASEAN Development - Communication, Cooperation, Development

1. Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation in the context of unbalanced global development.

2. Key points, dificulties and trends in Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation.

3. The opening of the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone in Guangxi and Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation.

Fourth Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum (2009)

Together Push Sino-ASEAN Development - Enlarge the Cooperation and Turn Challenges into Opportunities

1. The global economic crisis and Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation

2. Pan-Beibu Gulf infrastructure construction and cooperation

3. Cooperation between the Beibu Gulf and ASEAN regions.

Fifth Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum (2010)

Construction of the Sino-ASEAN Free Trade Area and Pan-Beibu Gulf Cooperation

1. Establishment of the Sino-ASEAN Free Trade Area and construction of the Nanning-Singapore Passageway.

2. Talks between the Beibu Gulf and the world's Top 500 companies - international investment and industry development within Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation

3. Pan-Beibu Gulf shipping, port and logistics cooperation.

Sixth Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum (2011)

Construction of the Sino-ASEAN Free Trade Area and Pan-Beibu Gulf Cooperation

1. Summit of Pan-Beibu Gulf think tanks to discuss regional connectivity and cross-border cooperation.

2. Summit on Pan-Beibu Gulf financial cooperation - cross-border trade and investment

3. Summit on Pan-Beibu Gulf tourism cooperation.

Seventh Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum (2012)

Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation and Common Prosperity

1. Summit of Pan-Beibu Gulf think tanks - rebalancing the global economy and Pan-Beibu Gulf cooperation and development

2. Summit on Pan-Beibu Gulf city development.

3. Summit on Pan-Beibu Gulf electronic information industry development

4. Sino-Malaysian industrial cooperation

Eighth Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum (2014)

Together Push Pan-Beibu Gulf Cooperation and Together Build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

1. Symposium on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

2. Symposium on Pan-Beibu Gulf financial innovation.

3. Summit of Pan-Beibu Gulf think tanks

4. Symposium about Pan-Beibu Gulf trade and investment

5. Symposium about Pan-Beibu Gulf port and logistics cooperation

6. Symposium about Pan-Beibu Gulf cultural communication.