On 27 January, the Conference on Theme and Topics of the 9th Hongqiao International Economic Forum (referred to as HongQiao Forum, HQF) was held in Beijing in a closed-door format at the Academic Hall of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The meeting was organised by the Secretariat of the HQF and hosted by the HQF Research Center and the Institutes of Science and Development of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a think tank partner of the HQF. Mr Yan Dong, Vice Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, delivered a video address.

Vice Minister Yan noted that global changes unseen in a century are accelerating, with multiple challenges intertwined and compounded. Under such circumstances, the international community needs more than ever to reinvigorate multilateralism, bridge differences through dialogue, and address common challenges through pragmatic cooperation. Held concurrently with the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the HQF has grown into a high-level platform for dialogue among political, business and academic communities, continuously building global consensus for an open world economy and for a community with a shared future for mankind.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Song Shangzhe, from the CIIE Bureau and the Secretariat of the HQF, and Mr Zhang Wei, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC) and Head of the HQF Research Center.

Experts, scholars, members, and representatives of partner institutions exchanged views on key thematic directions, including upholding openness and inclusiveness, safeguarding the multilateral trading system and strengthening cooperation in global governance, advancing technological innovation and international cooperation, jointly addressing global challenges and accelerating the green transition, and mapping out a blueprint for openness to share the dividends of China’s development.

Speakers at the meeting included Mr Yi Xiaozhun, former Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization and former Vice Minister of Commerce of China; Professor Thomas J. Sargent, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences (via video); Mr Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Economist of the European Policy Centre (via video); Mr Lu Xiao, Vice President of the Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Mr Zhang Bin, Deputy Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Mr Wang Huiyao, President of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and former Counsellor of the State Council; Mr Gao Zhikai, Vice President of CCG; Ms Anastasia Nesvetailova, Director of the Division on Macroeconomics and Development Policies, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (via video); Ms Kan Weilan, Chief Economist of the United Nations Development Programme China Office; Ms Hyun Hee Ban, Senior Adviser for Public Partnerships at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Mr Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Canada; Ms Su Yue, Chief Economist for China at the Economist Intelligence Unit; Ms Li Xiaowei, Deputy General Manager of the Transaction Banking Department of the Bank of China; Mr Wang Shilin, Deputy Director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Programme Centre of China Media Group; Mr Bian Guangqi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology, National Energy Administration; Mr Chen Kaijie, Second-Level Inspector (Deputy Director-General level) of the Policy Research Office, Ministry of Commerce; and Mr Zhang Guohua, First-Level Inspector of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

On the same day, the HQF launched an open online call for public input to collect views from various sectors on international economic issues of broad concern. The results will serve as an important reference for the preparation of the 9th HQF.