A remote video conference of the United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific Committee on the Belt and Road Local Cooperation wraps up Aug 20. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

A remote video conference involving 90 members of the United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) Committee on the Belt and Road Local Cooperation (BRLC) wrapped up Aug 20, local media reported.

Zhou Shu, secretary-general of BRLC and director of the Hangzhou Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, briefed the participants on what BRLC has achieved in the past year.

He said BRLC has adhered to its policy of "open, cooperative, sharing and win-win" and striven to build a global platform for innovative and entrepreneurial exchanges, enhance its working mechanism for stronger influence, forge closer ties between BRLC members through online communications, and promote international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.

Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, secretary-general of UCLG-ASPAC, said she was glad to see small and medium-sized companies across the globe setting up more frequent exchanges with each other.

"We should have a clear mind on what to do in the future and create more ideas to make our committee more diversified," Tjandradewi said.

Song Jingwu, co-president of UCLG-ASPAC and vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, wished BRLC member cities to learn more about their advantages and share their experiences.

The conference is attended by 90 members of the BRLC. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Maria Moreni, co-president of BRLC and president of the Italy-China Link (Italy), has always played an active role in BRLC affairs. She recommended that several Italian cities and organizations should join BRLC and said she hoped more cooperative projects can be rolled out in the future between different governments, enterprises and universities.

BRLC was set up in 2017 by the Hangzhou government and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, with its secretariat located in Hangzhou. The committee has carried out fruitful international exchanges and cooperation.