This year's Hongqiao International Economic Forum - a platform connecting leaders from different industries during the China International Import Expo - will consist of an opening ceremony in the morning of November 5 followed by four parallel sessions.

SESSION 1

THEME: Opening-up, Regulation and Business Environment: the Role of Governments and Perspectives of Multinationals

BACKGROUND: The improved business environment is crucial to boost market dynamics and further attract international investment. It has become a common pursuit of different countries to advance their domestic economic transformation. Faced with the opportunities and challenges in economic globalization, cooperation is of great importance to facilitate international trade.

CONTENT: The session will invite all parties to discuss ways of improving the business environment from the perspective of the government and companies, which will in turn promote global economic development.

SESSION 2

THEME: Artificial Intelligence and Innovative Development: Ideas, Technology and Markets

BACKGROUND: As a new phase of industrial revolution begins, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are thriving all over the world and have grown into a new economic driving force. New business models based on digitalization, networking and smart technologies have started to take shape, changing the global industrial structure. New opportunities and challenges have also surfaced.

CONTENT: The session will discuss how new technologies and ideas are nurtured with the help of AI, and how will these ideas can be applied in real situations. New issues related to laws and regulations, employment, and governance in the age of AI will also be discussed. Participants will discuss ways of propelling world economic development and market integration with the help of new technologies.

SESSION 3

THEME: WTO Reform and Free Trade Agreements: Options and Prospects

BACKGROUND: Ever since the global financial crisis in 2008, world trade, cross-border investment, bank loans and the development of the supply chain have all experienced contraction or stagnation compared to global GDP growth. A cover story of The Economist said that "slowbalization" has become the new development mode of the world economy.

Meanwhile, bilateral or regional relations of economies have become increasingly close. FTAs such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership have been reached. Therefore, reform is imperative for the WTO, which is the best representative of a multilateral trade system.

CONTENT: The session will discuss the future of multilateral and regional cooperation mechanisms, how these mechanisms will influence companies and consumers. It will also discuss the role of WTO reform and FTA negotiations.

SESSION 4

THEME: E-commerce in the Digital Era: New Platform and New Vision (the Global E-commerce Forum)

BACKGROUND: In the digital age, technologies such as mobile internet, cloud computing and big data are being widely used. New business models like the sharing economy have mushroomed. The innovative development of e-commerce has helped to create a win-win situation in the world economy and trade. Logistics and infrastructure construction has been boosted and there is deeper production and supply chain integration.

CONTENT: The session will demonstrate the new platforms of opening-up created by e-commerce businesses. It will also discuss the opportunities in continued economic and trade cooperation brought by Silk-Road E-commerce.