The parallel session of the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum, titled “The WTO at 30 and China: History and Evolution”, will take place on the afternoon of 5 November 2024 at Hall A1, Pavilion 4.2, the National Exhibition and Convention Center（Shanghai）. It is hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.

The multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, is the cornerstone of economic globalization and international trade, and plays a central role in promoting global trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and raising the well-being of people from WTO members. China’s accession to the WTO in 2001 represents a milestone in China’s integration into economic globalization, marking a new historic stage of China’s reform and opening-up. Ever since its accession, China has taken significant progress in integrating itself into the global economy, resulting in China’s rapid development and huge benefits to the rest of the world.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. At this special juncture, it is worth exploring how the WTO can develop and improve global trade rules to better respond to global challenges, and how China, together with other WTO members, can contribute to making the WTO better play its role. The parallel session will invite high-level government officials, representatives from international organizations, renowned experts and business leaders to review the development of the WTO in the past three decades, exchange views on the prospect of WTO reform and multilateral trading system, and explore China’s possible contribution and future role in the WTO. The parallel session is expected to provide more enlightening insights and useful suggestions on making the multilateral trading system more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all, and building an open world economy and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Chinese honored speakers

Yi Xiaozhun  

Former Vice Minister of Commerce of China

Jiang Xiaojuan

Professor, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,

Former Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council of China

Yu Miaojie

President, Liaoning University

Wang Rongming

President, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics

Pei Jinlin

Global Vice President of SAP

Wang Dong

President, Zhejiang China Commodities City Group Company

Foreign honored speakers

Todd McClay

Minister for Trade, New Zealand

Luis Carlos Reyes Hernández

Minister of commerce, industry, and tourism, Colombia

Johanna Hill

Deputy Director-General, WTO

Craig Allen

President, US-China Business Council

Steven Alan Barnett

Senior Resident Representative of IMF in China

Carlo D'Andrea

Vice President, the European Union Chamber Commerce in China

Fabian Zuleeg

Chief Executive and Chief Economist, European Policy Centre

Further Reading:

Hongqiao International Economic Forum (hereinafter referred to as HQF) is held in tandem with the China International Import Expo (CIIE). Under the theme of "High-Standard Opening up for Universally Beneficial and Inclusive Economic Globalization", the 7th HQF features the main forum (the opening ceremony of the CIIE and HQF), and 19 parallel sessions under "1+4" sections, i.e. the Press Release and International Symposium on World Openness Report 2024 and parallel sessions under Opening-up for Development, Opening-up for Cooperation, Opening-up for Innovation and Opening-up for Sharing. Meanwhile, closed meetings, including roundtables for foreign-funded enterprises and promotional activities related to "Invest in China", will be organized at the 7th HQF.

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Introduction to CIIE & HQF GALA

The 7th China International Import Expo & Hongqiao International Economic Forum Gala (CIIE&HQF GALA) will continue to be held before the opening ceremony, further enhancing the quality of services provided.

Facilitate networking and meetings. The Hongqiao Forum Secretariat will promptly release guest information to support mutual networking.

Enhance media interaction. Mainstream media will be invited to the event for scheduled interviews and spontaneous on-site interviews with high-profile guests, to enhance visibility. Photography services will also be provided.

Launch the function of message reservation. The information system of the Hongqiao Forum is optimized and upgraded. This system integrates such functions as registration, information inquiry, and guest interaction. It is now operational within the Hongqiao Forum module of the "Import Expo" App and applet.