Alf Barrios, Rio Tinto Executive Committee member, Chair for China and Japan

Below are the scripts:

Hello everyone, I'm Alf Barrios, Rio Tinto's China Chair. This is Rio Tinto's seventh year to attend the Hongqiao Forum, and the third time for us to show our products and solutions at the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

This year, I will be very delighted to attend the International Symposium on World Opening-up at the Hongqiao Forum. I'm looking forward to having in-depth discussions with Chinese and international policy-makers, thinkers, and business leaders. Over the years, CIIE has become a vital platform for global trade and win-win cooperation. With the strength of China's market, CIIE gives multinationals like Rio Tinto a chance to grow, and support China's high-quality development. For Rio Tinto, China is our largest market, contributing nearly 60% of our revenue. It's also home to our biggest shareholder and an increasing source of innovation and talent. We've benefited greatly from China's commitment to an open global economy and international cooperation. This year, we hit a major milestone – shipping four billion tonnes of iron ore to China. That's enough to build 23,000 Bird’s Nest stadiums. We also provide copper, bauxite, alumina, titanium dioxide, borates and other materials to support China's remarkable economic development. This is at the heart of our purpose, finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs. Looking ahead, we are working closely with Chinese partners to unlock resources for the green steel future. This includes Western Range iron ore project with China Baowu in Australia. And the groundbreaking partnership in Simandou, Guinea, one of the world's largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposits, which we are now jointly developing with partners including Chinalco and China Baowu. We're featuring the Simandou project and will showcase its progress to Chinese audiences for the first time during the CIIE this year. Aligned with China's goals, we are focused on reducing emissions across our value chain as we aim to leave a positive legacy for the planet. As a proud friend to CIIE for seven years, Rio Tinto is very excited to showcase our products and milestones again this year. We look forward to engaging with partners across industries and governments to have meaningful dialogues and drive progress. I wish the seventh CIIE and the Hongqiao Forum great success. Thank you.

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.