Our 1-minute recap video 

Grouphorse served as the exclusive provider of simultaneous interpreting services for the Boao Forum for Asia Paris Meeting from September 14-15. It was hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) and the Fondation Prospective et Innovation and themed “‘Belt and Road’ Initiative: Building Synergy with EU Policies and Strategies”. 

Exploring potential links between the Belt and Road Initiative and other various national development plans such as the Juncker Plan, the conference came as part of continued efforts to address the enduring fallout from the financial crisis, aiming to bring new drivers of the world economic growth and new levels of equality in terms of global access to wealth and benefits.

This is the third time that Grouphorse Translations has been signed by the BFA to provide high-level conference interpretation services. Our first arrangement with the BFA was in 2011, when we became their official language service provider, responsible for simultaneous interpreting services at the BFA Annual Conference. The returning custom demonstrates the premium service standard of Grouphorse' professional translators, and the admiration afforded to us by the international community.

The meeting concluded that under the Initiative, Asia and Europe should deepen their cooperation in terms of infrastructure, interconnectivity, the institutionalization with respect to trade and investment cooperation, and industrial innovation in order to explore in depth the exciting potential for intercontinental trade and investment and further advance Asian-European integration and financial prosperity.

Altogether, there were over 300 representatives in attendance from 19 countries and regions including China, France, Germany, and the UK. 

△ On the evening of September 14, the BFA held a welcome banquet at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcoming more than 300 guests who had come to take part in the next day’s conference.

△ The banquet was chaired by former French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin. Delivering speeches were Zhai Jun, Chinese Ambassador to France, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, minister of state attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and BFA Secretary-General Zhou Wenzhong.

△ French President Macron delivers his speech highlighting the political, economic, and cultural significance of the Belt and Road Initiative and its potential to extend a bridge of shared development across the Eurasian continent. 

△ Zeng Peiyan, vice chairman of the BFA Council of Advisors and former vice premier of the State Council, delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony centered around creating a new era for common development in Asia and Europe by pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative.

△ Gérard Larcher, president of the Senate of France, delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, pointing out the vast impact of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

△Former French Prime Minister Raffarin delivers his welcome speech, calling upon the European people to consider the Initiative’s potential benefit towards Europe as President Macron frequently highlights the importance of the Initiative as an exemplary geopolitical project.

This was the second conference held in Paris by the BFA, the first being the International Capital Conference, held in November of 2011. Besides the opening ceremony and welcome dinner, there were three sessions including “Infrastructure Connectivity”, “Promoting Trade and Investment” and “Inclusive and Innovative Ways of Funding” and a CEO dialogue themed “ ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative: The Role of the Market and Business”.

△ Participants at the “Infrastructure Connectivity” Session state that infrastructure is essential for global economic recovery.

△ The “Promoting Trade and Investment” Session.

Participants at the “Promoting Trade and Investment” Session agreed that the Initiative has been playing an important role in promoting and facilitating investment between Asia and Europe, helping to create a multi-lateral trade system for parties of both regions to use freely. They suggested that the system should be established in accordance with the World Trade Organization in order to promote the circulation of global capital.

△ The “Inclusive and Innovative Ways of Funding” Session.

At the “Inclusive and Innovative Ways of Funding” Session, the participants agreed that there is a vast funding gap in the construction of infrastructure, both within the Belt and Road framework and around the world. They concluded that government financing alone is not enough, and the potential of the private sector needs to be exploited. 

△ The CEO dialogue “ ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative: The Role of the Market and Business” co-chaired by Raffarin and Zhao Jinjun. 

27 Chinese and foreign representatives attended the CEO dialogue to exchange views on issues such as infrastructure connectivity between Asia and Europe, energy cooperation between China and Europe, mutual investment, and financial technology. 

△French President Emmanuel Macron and the Chinese representatives at the Elysee Palace.