On March 22, 2023 Conference on International Industrial Cooperation (Singapore) and China Mechanical and Electrical Products Brand Exhibition was opened at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center in Singapore, with the theme of "Green Development, Digital Empowerment, Land-sea Trade Corridor, Diversified Finance, Intelligence Manufacturing". More than 600 Chinese and foreign representatives from the RCEP region, international organizations, industry associations, financial institutions and enterprises attended the meeting.

On March 22, 2023 International Industry Cooperation Conference (Singapore) and China Mechanical and Electrical Products Brand Exhibition opening ceremony was held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center in Singapore. (Photo by Chen Bing/Xinhua)

"Singapore is China's friendly neighbor and all-round partner in keeping with the times," Said by Ling Ji, Vice Minister and Deputy China International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce of China in his speech via video. He pointed out that the conference is an important initiative to strengthen cooperation between China and Singapore in the field of green industry and digital economy, as well as a positive attempt to build a high-level cooperation platform for regional industry chain and supply chain, which is of positive significance to promote mutual investment between China and Singapore and deepen regional industrial cooperation.

Alvin Tan, Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore said, "Enterprises in Singapore, China and the RCEP region are exploring new business opportunities for cooperation, especially in the fields of green development and digital economy. Meanwhile, more and more business cooperation will be conducted between Singapore and China. Governments of Singapore and China will take great efforts to provide a favorable business environment."

Sun Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, said in her speech that at present, everyone can feel the boom of China’s high-quality economic development, which has boosted the confidence and enthusiasm to cooperate with China. One of the key directions to strengthen cooperation is the real economy and manufacturing industry. China’s real manufacturing industry has outstanding advantages and huge potential. The Conference On International Industrial Cooperation provides a platform for an in-depth understanding of China’s real economy and manufacturing industry for all sectors of society, and it is hoped that all can seize the opportunity to promote cooperation.

Zhang Xiangchen, Director-General of the WTO, addressed the conference via video, saying that RCEP member states are at different economic development stages and are highly complementary, and industrial cooperation will create new space for their economic and social development.

"This event comes at the right time and will certainly deepen the international industrial chain and supply chain exchanges and strongly promote economic and trade cooperation in the RCEP region," said Guo Ningning, Executive Vice Governor of China's Fujian Province, “ASEAN has become Fujian's largest trade and investment partner. We would like to take this conference as a new starting point and work together with ASEAN countries including Singapore to co-build quality Belt and Road.

Guests who attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches included Gao Quanqing, President of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), Zhang Yujing, President of CCCME, Huang Chunshun, Plenipotentiary Representative of Chairman of Thailand-China Business Council and Zheng Xuexuan, Chairman of China State Construction Group Co., Ltd.. In addition, the ceremony was hosted by Zheng Chao, Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Expert Committee of China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Machinery & Electronic Products (CCCME).

Signing ceremony and results release ceremony also were held at the opening ceremony, co-witnessing the signing and release of a series of international and platform-based cooperation results such as The Common Action Plan on Promoting Green Development, Memorandum of Cooperation on Establishing International Industry Cooperation Service Platform and China Carbon Disclosure Platform for Machinery and Electronics.

On March 22, the opening ceremony of the 2023 Conference On International Industrial Cooperation (Singapore) & China’s Machinery and Electronics Show was held at Marina Bay Sands Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore. The picture shows the ribbon-cutting ceremony of 2023 China’s Machinery and Electronics Show in Singapore. (Photo by Chen Bing/Xinhua)

During the luncheon hosted by Wu Shaojun, Executive Vice President of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), Business China Chairman Lee Yixian delivered a speech as a guest speaker. Zheng Chao, Executive Vice President of China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Machinery & Electronic Products (CCCME) read the congratulatory letter written by Chen Jian, Senior Advisor of Expert Committee of CCCME.

Zheng Chao, Executive Vice President of China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Machinery & Electronic Products (CCCME) announced the opening of the ceremony and introduced the guests in attendance. (Photo by Chen Bing/Xinhua)

As is reported, the three-day event was co-hosted by CCCME and SCCCI, guided by Ministry of Commerce of China and under the support by Ministry of Trade & Industry of Singapore.