Ma Weiguang, Party chief of Shaoxing city, speaks at the China-Japan-ROK Belt and Road Business Conference in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on May 26. [Photo/people.com.cn]

Nearly 400 representatives from governments and businesses in East Asia sought new opportunities for international cooperation at the China-Japan-ROK Belt and Road Business Conference in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on May 26.

With a theme of "Innovation and Opening-up, Cooperation and Mutual Benefit", the conference was designed to carve out more space for business exchange and cooperation among the three countries.

Jiang Zengwei, former head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have a lot in common due to their geographical proximity, and they are close partners in terms of trade and economy. He proposed to combine the strengths of the three countries to push forward the integrated development of Northeast Asia.

A liaison office of the China-Japan-ROK Business Association and a branch of the exchange center of Chinese, Japanese and Korean enterprises are unveiled at the business conference in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on May 26. [Photo/people.com.cn]

At the conference, an initiative was released calling for the establishment of a cooperation system for China-Japan-ROK business associations, to involve more enterprises in China's Belt and Road Initiative and deepen exchange and cooperation among the countries.

"Shaoxing will uphold the vision of building a shared future for mankind and endeavor to make contributions to the friendly ties and win-win results among China, Japan and ROK," said Ma Weiguang, Party chief of Shaoxing city.