2015 was the year when China's initiative of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) construction was advanced and implemented. Invited by the Australian federal government and the Melbourne city government, the 3rd Global Economic Development Forum was held in Melbourne, Australia on November 23, 2015. The conference was highly valued by the Australian government and enterprises. Nearly 300 people, including Australian federal government officials, Mayor Robert Doyle of Melbourne, Governor Daniel Andrews of Victoria, representatives of various Australian chambers of commerce, business leaders, experts, scholars, and Chinese business people, attended the forum to jointly explore new opportunities for development and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The forum received unanimous praise from the Australian government and enterprises. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott specially sent a congratulatory call on the forum's hosting in Australia. Officials from the Victorian state, the mayor of Melbourne, the economic counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in Melbourne, and industry elites delivered enthusiastic speeches respectively. During the subsequent sessions of the forum, Australian federal government officials, representatives from the Australian Trade Commission, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and representatives of well - known Australian - Chinese enterprises successively gave speeches and elaborated on relevant policies and projects. The organizing committee also specially arranged one - on - one business matchmaking meetings.

This conference promoted mutual communication and understanding among the participating entrepreneurs. Chinese entrepreneurs also found high-quality political resources and personal connections from it. Australian and Chinese entrepreneurs matched projects through the platform of the conference, signed cooperation intentions, and by summarizing and sharing, they discovered huge business opportunities and chances, and forged a deep friendship.