Chongqing Municipality, southwest China - Dec 2, 2019 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Asia-Europe Cooperation Dialogue of Boao Forum for Asia in progress
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of United Nations, chairman of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) (partially overlaid with shot 3):
"If we work together, firm and united, we can win the race because we represent the majority and the just cause of international cooperation. The majority rules, justice will prevail."
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3. Various of participants
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4. Various of participants, Ban applauding
5. Logo for Asia-Europe Cooperation Dialogue
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Paolo Borzatta, Senior Partner at European House – Ambrosetti (ending with shot 7):
"I think what needs to be done is to make sure that everybody in Europe understands that BRI is not only a Chinese initiative, it's an initiative that works for all Eurasia, and it is in the interest of Europe of being part of the BRI because in any case it will be done. It is important that it becomes a multilateral institution, a multilateral initiative."
7. Asia-Europe Cooperation Dialogue of Boao Forum for Asia in progress
8. PowerPoint showing Share of World's GDP for different regions over course of history (1500-2008)
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Karim Dahou, Director's Office of Global Relations Secretariat, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (starting with shot 8):
"They can provide an opportunity for countries that are concerned, let's take for instance Central Asian countries to develop more dense regional infrastructure networks and on this basis to have more internal trade and investment and hopefully to diversify their economies."
10. Asia-Europe Cooperation Dialogue in progress
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Alessandra Pasini, CFO, Chief International and Business Development Officer, Snam S.p.A.(starting with shot 10/ending with shot 12):
"I think developing close partnerships is what it needs rather than just focusing on individual business opportunities, and matching respective competence and needs is what we think it will take to be successful which is what we're experiencing here in China. Bringing our competence and know-how to the service of Chinese large players that don't have the same degree of several years of experience but from whom we think we can learn other things."
12. Various of Asia-Europe Cooperation Dialogue in progress

Participants from across Europe and Asia have hailed the need for stronger free trade and greater multilateralism at the just-concluded Asia-Europe Cooperation Dialogue of the Boao Forum for Asia, held on Monday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The event brought together more than 400 representatives from 21 countries and regions, as well as three international organizations, to discuss current issues affecting the two continents and beyond.

Cooperation between Asian and European countries is the most-mentioned topic by attendees as they all agreed that only through collaborating can each be benefited and unilateralism will not be prevailed.

Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and now the chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), made this massage clear in his keynote speech.

"If we work together, firm and united, we can win the race because we represent the majority and the just cause of international cooperation. The majority rules, justice will prevail," said Ban, who also added that the potential cooperation areas for Asia and Europe are limitless.

In particular, Ban said the Belt and Road initiative will turn Asia and Europe into one continent, instead of merely a geographical concept.

His opinion echoed with several other attendees including Paolo Borzatta, senior partner at the European House – Ambrosetti, a professional services company based in Milan, Italy.

"I think what needs to be done is to make sure that everybody in Europe understands that BRI is not only a Chinese initiative, it's an initiative that works for all of Eurasia, and it is in the interest of Europe of being part of the BRI because in any case it will be done. It is important that it becomes a multilateral institution, a multilateral initiative," said Borzatta.

"They can provide an opportunity for countries that are concerned, let's take for instance Central Asian countries to develop more dense regional infrastructure networks and on this basis to have more internal trade and investment and hopefully to diversify their economies," said Karim Dahou from the Director's Office of Global Relations Secretariat under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Meanwhile, representatives from Snam S.p.A., one of the world's largest energy infrastructure companies, said there are huge opportunities for Italy to play a more active part in the BRI.

The Italian company said the change in trends in energy mix from coal and oil to gas and renewable energies has helped bring it closer to China.

"I think developing close partnerships is what it needs rather than just focusing on individual business opportunities, and matching respective competence and needs is what we think it will take to be successful which is what we're experiencing here in China. Bringing our competence and know-how to the service of Chinese large players that don't have the same degree of several years of experience but from whom we think we can learn other things," said Alessandra Pasini, the group's CFO and Chief International and Business Development Officer.