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The Parallel Session on “Accelerating Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization through South-South Cooperation Exploring the Role of Industrial through South-South Cooperation Exploring the Role of Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones” Was Successfully Held Release date: 2023-03-09

On the afternoon of November 5, 2022, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) held a Parallel Session on “Accelerating Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization through South-South Cooperation Exploring the Role of Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones” under the 5th Hongqiao International Economic Forum (Hongqiao Forum) at the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai). Li Fei, Assistant Minister of Commerce, attended the parallel session and delivered a speech. Meanwhile, UNIDO Director-General Gerd Müller and Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, delivered video messages. Mr. Chang Qide, Coordinator of the United Nations Development System in China, and Mr. Lin Yifu, Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics and Professor of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at Peking University, delivered video and online keynote speeches, respectively.

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Li Fei, Assistant Minister of Commerce, said that the Ministry of Commerce would thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, continue to support national-level economic development zones to uphold openness as a guidance and innovation for improvement, play an active role in the new journey of promoting modernization with Chinese characteristics, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with international organizations, including UNIDO, facilitate cooperation with parks in developing countries and make greater contributions to South-South cooperation. UNIDO Director-General Gerd Müller pointed out that the extensive experience of China in building and developing industrial parks currently has positive implications for other developing countries. UNIDO supports the standardization of industrial parks and continues to promote industrial parks as a source of industrial and technological innovation. Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), said that MIIT would carry out the Global Development Initiative thoroughly and promote South-South cooperation in industrial parks through policy coordination, project cooperation, and talent exchange to jointly enhance industrialization and contribute to building a global community of development with a shared future. Lin Yifu, Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics and Professor of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at Peking University, believed that the experience of China and some successfully industrialized countries in East Asia shows that the establishment of industrial parks can enable the provision of one-stop services and better business environment, and the green, sustainable and highly inclusive development can help to create more jobs.

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Mr. Stephen Bainous Kargbo, Representative and Head of UNIDO’s Regional Office in China, moderated the panel discussion on Topic 1, in which four guests from the political, academic and business sectors discussed “industrial parks/special economic zones promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization”.

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The discussion session on Topic 2 was moderated by Zhang Yi, Deputy Director of the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges. It featured five panelists on the topic of “South-South cooperation for knowledge and technology transfer in the field of industrial parks/SEZs”.

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During the parallel session, UNIDO launched the Global Industrial Parks Platform for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization, pre-released the Guide to Sustainable Design, Development and Management of Integrated Agriculture and Food Parks and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges released a video on South-South technical cooperation.