The Hongqiao International Economic Forum, also known as Hongqiao Forum, is a significant part of the China International Import Expo. The 6th Hongqiao Forum is themed "Joining Hands in Development, Opening Up for the Future". In addition to the main forum (the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo and Hongqiao Forum), activities related to "Invest in China Year", the Press Release and International Symposium on World Openness Report 2023 will be held, and the latest World Openness Index will be released, as well as several parallel sessions under four sections: Opening-up for Development, Opening-up for Cooperation, Opening-up for Innovation and Opening-up for Sharing.

1 "Invest in China Year" — Special Promotional Event in Pilot Free Trade Zones

Organizers: Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China

Time: Afternoon, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall B1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the construction of free trade zones in China. This sub-forum aims to showcase the achievements of the pilot free trade zones in China, demonstrate their favorable business environment, encourage global investors to invest and thrive within these zones and share the dividends of China's reform and development opportunities. This event is the first investment promotion activity organized around free trade zones at the CIIE. It attracts representatives from all pilot free trade zones in China to participate in discussions. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will release a report on China's free trade zone, marking the first time an international organization publishes a report on China's free trade zones.

2 Press Release and International Symposium on World Openness Report 2023

Organizers: Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Research Center for Hongqiao International Economic forum

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4.2 Hall Rotunda, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The World Openness Report, jointly researched, written and launched by the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Research Center for the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, is the flagship report of the Hongqiao Forum. It serves as a vital indicator of both global common opening-up and China's high-level opening-up.

Having been released annually since the fourth Hongqiao Forum in 2021, the report has gained increasing credibility and a wider sphere of influence. It has emerged as a comprehensive platform for consolidating various expertise on openness and facilitating discussions on cooperation in this domain. Its ultimate objective is to advance the development of the global political economy through the assessment of global opening-up trends, identification of opportunities and challenges, and provision of strategies to address these challenges. In addition, the report effectively conveys China's vision for fostering openness and connectivity with the rest of the world.

The World Openness Report can be divided into three parts: on World Openness Index (Part I), on hot spots of global openness (Part II), and on China's policy and practice of its opening-up (Part III). One of the highlights of the report is the World Openness Index, which measures the openness of 129 economies since 2008. Part I of the report releases the fresh World Openness Index, and tries to explore the laws of national openness.

Guests attend the Hongqiao Forum include: Albert Mudenda Muchanga, economic and trade commissioner of the African Union Commission; Christopher A. Pissarides, Nobel Laureate in Economics; Gu Xueming, President of the Research Center for the Hongqiao International Economic Forum; Huang Qifan, executive academic vice-president of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy and former Mayor of Chongqing; Jiang Xiaojuan, Professor of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and President of the China Society of Industrial Economics; Joseph Romanelli, President of Merck Human Health International; and Li Junhua, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

3 Driving Green Investment and Trade to Jointly Build Global Eco-Civilization

Organizers: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and United Nations Development Programme

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4.2 Hall A1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The main purpose of this sub-forum is to discuss strategies for promoting development and climate finance through trade and investment and to support green technology and innovation through the reshaping of the global trade and investment policy agenda. The UNCTAD showcases the latest research results of China's green development and the Ministry of Commerce will launch the China Green Trade Public Service Platform.

4 Resilient Global Industry and Supply Chains

Organizers: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and United Nations Global Compact

Time: Afternoon, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall A2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The evolution of changes with a magnitude unseen in a century is accelerating across the world. The security and stability of the global industry chain are facing challenges. The existing market division system is being impacted and there is a frequent occurrence of decoupling and supply chain disruption. It is urgent for countries to work together to enhance the resilience and security levels of the global industry chain and supply chain and jointly promote the sustained recovery of the world economy. This sub-forum aims to bring together experts and representatives from domestic and international companies to share the latest findings on the development trends of the global industry and supply chains, China's role in global supply chain and strategies and measures to build a stable and resilient industry and supply chain system.

5 Agricultural Services Trade: Growth, Opportunities and Resilient Global Supply Chains

Organizers: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China and Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Morning, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall B2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: Agricultural services trade is part of global services trade, covering various sectors and stages of the agricultural supply chain. At this moment, global agricultural development faces multiple uncertainties and instabilities. Promoting agricultural services trade, through service-based approaches to increase land productivity, labor efficiency, and investment returns, can facilitate the optimal allocation of global agricultural resources. The sub-forum aims to gather the wisdom of global experts to support agricultural services.

6 Revitalizing Real Economy with Financial Resources

Organizer: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4.2 Hall D1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: This sub-forum has invited representatives from government departments, financial regulatory agencies, policy banks, commercial banks and domestic and foreign enterprises to attend and deliver speeches. They will also hold discussions on specific topics. Additionally, there will be announcements of achievements and signing ceremonies held during the event.

7 Pudong Pioneer Area: Excellent Business Environment for High-Standard Opening-Up

Organizers: Shanghai Municipal People's Government and Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Morning, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall D2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The sub-forum is set to promote high-level opening-up in Pudong New Area, support Pudong in playing a leading role and building a high-standard international economic and trade rules system and accelerate the development of Shanghai into a central node for domestic circulation and a strategic link for both domestic and international circulation.

The sub-forum consists of a welcome speech, keynote speeches, interactive discussions and the promotion of the Pudong New Area. Leaders from Shanghai and relevant ministries will deliver speeches. Representatives from international organizations and consulting firms, experts, scholars and heads of multinational corporations will deliver keynote speeches on the outstanding business environment in the leading area and high-level opening-up. The discussion session will invite representatives from leading companies to discuss topics such as further promoting the construction of an outstanding business environment, high-level institutional opening-up, and enhancing global resource allocation capabilities. The promotion of the Pudong New Area will comprehensively showcase its institutional opening-up and achievements, and leverage the platform of the China International Import Expo to promote Pudong to the world and enhance its international influence, urban soft power, and investment attractiveness.

8 China's High-Quality Development and New Opportunities for US Companies

Organizers: US-China Business Council, China International Import Expo Bureau and Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce

Time: Afternoon, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall D1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: closed-door meeting

9 Seminar on Channelling Global Business Through Hong Kong

Organizers: Hong Kong SAR Government, Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4.2 Hall C1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The Hongqiao forum will feature a Hong Kong symposium for the first time. The symposium will highlight Hong Kong's role as a leading international business and investment hub that facilitates not only Chinese mainland companies' overseas expansion, but also foreign businesses' entry and foreign investments into the Chinese mainland. Under the theme "Channelling Global Business through Hong Kong", prominent business leaders from Hong Kong will share their insights on how Hong Kong can leverage its unique role in connecting local and international businesses as well as contributing to China's high-quality development as outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan.

10 International Cooperation on Standards for Prosperous Global Market

Organizers: State Administration for Market Regulation (National Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China). Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Morning. Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall A2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: This sub-forum aims to exchange ideas on the trend of international standardization, promote international standardization cooperation, and strive to harness the power of standards to stimulate the growth of global industries and jointly develop and share standards for the sake of global connectivity.

11 Regional International Organizations Demonstration Zones: New Platform and Practice for BRI Cooperation

Organizers: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and Shandong Provincial People's Government

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 42 Hall D2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The sub-forum includes keynote speeches by leaders, dialogues and cooperation signing ceremonies. It has invited government officials, scholars and business representatives in the field of regional economic cooperation to engage in deep discussions on regional economic cooperation. It aims to innovate new models and paths for regional economic development and promote local economic and trade cooperation, as well as economic recovery and development.

12 Deepening Regional Collaborative Innovation to Empower High-Quality Development of Hongqiao International Hub for Opening-up

Organizers: Shanghai Municipal People's Government and Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Morning, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall D1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The sub-forum will bring together top-level academic experts including Nobel-winning economists, leading entrepreneurs and other elites to discuss opening-up and innovation. It aims to accelerate the construction of the Hongqiao International Opening-up Hub.

13 Promoting International Cooperation and Innovation in Industrial Parks: Exploring a New Frontier of Sustainable Industrialization

Organizers: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4 7 Hall B2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The sub-forum aims to promote international cooperation and innovation, and facilitate the sustainable development of industrial parks in support of achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. It will delve into important emerging trends that will impact the future development of industrial parks, including digital transformation, global supply chains, climate action, circular economy, and urbanization. The sub-forum will also promote effective approaches to encourage domestic and foreign investments in support of the development of industrial parks.

14/01 Parallel Session on Exploring International Digital Governance and Creating Opportunities for Digital Industry & Global Digital Industry Matchmaking Summit

Organizers: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. The People's Government of Zhejiang Province and International Trade Center

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4.2 Hall E, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: Currently, the global digital economy is undergoing significant adjustments, and it has become a key force in reshaping the global economic structure, restructuring global factors of production, and changing the global competitive landscape. In this context, the digital economy poses new challenges to existing global governance concepts, rules, and order, and also creates a series of urgent issues that need to be addressed. There is a vital need for a corresponding regulatory system and governance environment to guide the standardized development of the digital economy. The sub-forum has invited guests from the political, academic, and business sectors to engage in in-depth discussions on hot topics such as "openness, governance, cooperation and sharing" in the digital economy. A report on the development of RCEP e-commerce businesses will be released.

14/02 Parallel Session on Exploring International Digital Governance and Creating Opportunities for Digital Industry and High-level Dialogue on Digital Trade Innovation

Organizers: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. Jiangsu Provincial People's Government and Global Alliance for Trade in Services

Time: Afternoon, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall B2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The sub-forum is divided into five main parts: opening remarks, achievement announcements, cooperation signings, keynote speeches, and high-level dialogues. In addition to announcing the achievements of China-Singapore digital trade cooperation and releasing the Global Report on Intellectual Property Protection in Digital Trade, the organizer intends to facilitate project collaboration signings among key digital trade enterprises. The keynote speeches and high-level dialogues will focus on topics such as the development landscape of cross-border digital trade.

15 Intelligent Technology and Future Industry Development

Organizers: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China Afternoon

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4.2 Hall C2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: The sub-forum aims to provide a high-end exchange and cooperation platform, bringing together representatives from governments, academia, and business communities to share their in-depth viewpoints regarding the forefront of intelligent technologies, opportunities and challenges in the visionary layout of future industries such as general artificial intelligence, brain science and brain-inspired intelligence. In the panel discussion, panelists will discuss how LSMs will energize new industrialization, how to promote the digital, smart, and green transformation of the real economy, and share their insights into intelligent technology and future industry in the years ahead. The objective is to facilitate the seamless flow of innovation across borders, propel future industries as a new driver of high-quality economic growth, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

16 Upgrading Pilot Free Trade Zones Through Financial Reform and Innovation

Organizers: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4.2 Hall B1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content Since the establishment of the first pilot free trade zone. China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, in Sept 2013, China has set up a total of 21 free trade zones, including Hainan Free Trade Port, over the past 10 years. During this process, significant achievements have been made in financial reform. In order to support the development of free trade zones, governments at different levels have implemented various measures to align rules, regulations and management standards with international practices, improve the degree of trade liberalization and facilitation, and promote high-level opening-up. The scope of financial opening in the free trade zones has been expanding, and financial services have been continuously reformed and innovated. Banks and other financial institutions have fully utilized policy opportunities to provide cross-border RMS settlement services and infect vitality into the development of the free trade zones.

Based on a summary of the 10-year development history of the free trade zones, this sub-forum will explore how financial reform can further achieve breakthroughs and innovations in the free trade zones, and make positive contributions to stabilizing foreign trade and serving the real economy.

17 Empowering Businesses with Open Innovation

Organizers: State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Morning. Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall A1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: Open innovation is both the essence and inevitable trend of economic globalization. It requires deep cooperation and exchanges between domestic and foreign enterprises in terms of technological innovation. Economic globalization accelerates the global flow of innovation elements, and the global innovation landscape is showing a trend of multi-centered and multipolar development. Domestically, strengthening technological innovation and achieving high-level independence in the development of science and technology are the essential paths to high-quality development and Chinese modernization. The sub-forum will focus on discussing how open innovation can enable enterprise development. Guests will explore how to better build an open innovation system, create an open innovation environment, and strengthen open innovation cooperation from the perspectives of policy system, innovation ecology, and corporate governance.

18 Understanding New Consumption Trends and Tapping New Consumption Potential

Organizer Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Afternoon, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall Rotunda, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: This sub-forum brings together experts, scholars, policy researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurs from China and abroad. The forum aims to conduct a re-analysis of China's consumption structure from phenomena to essence. It seeks to identify and assess the driving force and potential of consumption in China, while also shedding light on new trends, pain points and underlying factors that will contribute to demand changes. Together, the participants will explore strategies that address the current challenges of consumer growth in China with a comprehensive and long-term approach.

19 Silver Economy: New Opportunities from Global Aging

Organizers: National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China and Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Afternoon, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall D2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: In the context of a global aging population, the elderly are increasingly recognized as an important factor affecting the long-term development of the economy and society. Meeting the consumption demand of the large elderly population will create new opportunities for economic development and have profound impacts on consumption structure, industrial structure, and capital flow in the whole society. The silver economy refers to the sum of a series of economic activities providing products and services to the elderly and preparing for the aging stage, which has a wide range of involvement, a long industry chain, diverse formats, and huge potential. The Chinese government is studying and formulating supportive policies to vigorously develop the silver economy, improve the well-being of the elderly, expand domestic consumption, and cultivate new economic drivers. The sub-forum includes roundtable discussions, where leaders from domestic and international financial, investment, manufacturing, technology and healthcare industries will engage in dialogue to exchange ideas on "innovative development and open cooperation in the silver economy". They will join the audience in discussing and answering questions to support enterprises to embrace opportunities. A report to introduce Chinese cities' practices to tackle population aging will be released at the sub-forum. It will comprehensively assess the overall capacity of cities to actively respond to population aging and launch the "Top 100 Leading Cities in Active Response to Population Aging" list. This will encourage more cities to explore solutions that are in line with the economic and social development and the process of population aging. During the practical exploration session, representatives from some cities will also introduce typical cases, vividly showcasing the distinctive practices of Chinese cities in actively responding to population aging.

20 International Cooperation in Protecting IPR and Fighting Infringement and Counterfeiting

Organizers: World Intellectual Property Organization. Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. State Administration for Market Regulation and Office of the National Leading Group on Coordinated Implementation of Building a Quality-powered Nation

Time: Morning, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall B1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: This sub-forum focuses on showcasing the progress and achievements in the protection of intellectual property rights and cracking down on infringements and counterfeits. It demonstrates China's firm determination and strong sense of responsibility as a major country in combating infringements and counterfeits. The event has invited representatives from international organizations, foreign government officials and intellectual property officials from foreign embassies in China, as well as representatives of foreign-funded enterprises, to exchange ideas. The aim is to further deepen international exchange and cooperation in the field of intellectual property, actively address concerns from all parties, enhance understanding and consensus and promote the global governance in combating infringements and counterfeits. The sub-forum consists of keynote speeches and discussions on strengthening protection, international cooperation and social governance.

21 Innovation in Safety Production Management: A Global Perspective

Organizers: Ministry of Emergency Management of the People's Republic of China and International Labour Organization

Time: Afternoon, Nov 5

Location: 4.2 Hall, A2, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: N/A

22 Global Drug Safety Governance and Chinese Drug Regulatory Practice

Organizers: National Medical Products Administration and China International Import Expo Bureau

Time: Afternoon, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall A1, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: In recent years, a slew of pharmaceutical industry policies and drug regulatory policies have been released in China to support business development. The attractiveness of the Chinese market to multinational companies has also been increasing. During the previous CIIEs, the events to promote exchange and sharing of drug-regulatory policies received widespread attention.

With the continuous deepening of drug regulatory reform in China, the National Medical Products Administration has introduced a series of reform measures such as the drug marketing authorization holder system, drug surveillance system, protection of drug intellectual property rights, medical device registration system, and imported cosmetics filing system. These latest drug regulatory policies in China will be introduced to domestic and foreign companies during the 2023 CIIE.

The sub-forum provides interpretations of China's drug and medical device regulations and requirements and introduces the progress made in the scientific development and internationalization of drug regulation. There will be exchanges and industry dialogues to help companies explore the Chinese market.

23 Global Trading System at a Crossroads: More Integration or More Fragmentation?

Organizer: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Time: Morning, Nov 6

Location: 4.2 Hall Rotunda, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Content: China has consistently adhered to economic globalization, promoted trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, participated in the reform and construction of the global governance system, practiced the concept of global governance based on the principle of "planning together, building together, and benefiting together" and upheld true multilateralism. The sub-forum will help to demonstrate China's contribution to economic globalization and global economic and trade governance, and present China's solutions.