The Theme and Topics Release and Interpretation session for the 8thHongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) was successfully held on July 25th, marking the imminent arrival of the 100-day countdown to the opening of the 8thChina International Import Expo (CIIE) and the HQF. The event was hosted by the HQF Secretariat, organized by the HQF Research Center, supported by Bank of China, and live-streamed by CMG Mobile.

The speech and release session (Swipe for more)

Wu Zhengping, Executive Director-general of the CIIE Bureau attended the session and delivered a speech. Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), delivered a video address. Cui Weijie, Head of the HQF Research Center and Vice President of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC) under the Ministry of Commerce, released the theme and the topics of the parallel sessions and other activities for the 8thHQF.

The theme of the 8th HQF is“Opening Up for New Opportunities, Collaborating for a Shared Future”.

The 8thHQF will include a Main Forum (CIIE and HQF Opening Ceremony) and a number of parallel sessions under “1+4” sections, namely a Press Conference on releasing The World Openness Report 2025& International Symposium on World Opening-up (releasing the latest World Openness Index) and parallel sessions and other activities under Opening-up for Cooperation, Opening-up for Innovation, Opening-up for Development and Opening-up for Sharing.

Opening-up for Cooperationwill further focus on“Reinvigorating Multilateral Cooperation.”Topics include WTO reform, the 10thAnniversary of China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, seminar on the World Trade Report 2025 and launch of its Chinese edition, open trade and security-based development, protecting IPR, resilient global industrial and supply chains through cooperation among enterprises, finance facilitating industrial and supply chain cooperation, and deepening Global South cooperation.

Opening-up for Innovationwill further focus on“Digital Intelligence Empowerment.”Topics include development of artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics innovation, technological innovation and youth, AI-driven digital economy innovation, intelligent manufacturing empowering Chinese modernization, and international cooperation in AI standards for empowering industrial upgrades.

Opening-up for Developmentwill further focus on “Green and Sustainable Development.”Topics include green trade, new energy storage, FTZ driving industrial innovation, compliance-driven collaborative growth in global manufacturing, and agricultural trade.

Opening-up for Sharingwill further focus on “A More Open and Inclusive China.”Topics include revitalising consumption, the silver economy, drug safety governance and China's drug regulatory innovation, Pudong's opening-up, Hongqiao HUB, foreign enterprise roundtables, closed-door roundtable for US businesses in China, and "Invest in China" - special promotion for Pilot Free Trade Zones.

Renowned domestic and international scholars and executives from HQF member companies provided forward-looking interpretations of the 8thHQF's theme and topics. The interpretation session was moderated by Zhou Yunfrom China Media Group. Participants included Victor Gao, Esq., Vice President of CCG, Chair Professor of Soochow University, Guest Professor of Shenzhen University; Qu Jian, Vice President of the China Development Institute (CDI) and President of CDI Qianhai Headquarters; Andy Boreham, Columnist and Video Director; Song Huasheng, Professor at School of Economics and Executive Director of Institute of International Economics, Zhejiang University; and Li Xiaowei, Deputy General Manager of the Global Transaction Banking Department of Bank of China (a Diamond Member of the HQF and the supporter of this event).

The interpretation session (Swipe for more)

Victor Gao, Esq. stated that against the backdrop of this year's global economic and trade landscape, the HQF's call for open cooperation carries profound practical significance in advancing international economic governance. The theme of the 8th HQF precisely responds to the demands of our times, demonstrating China’s resolute stance in upholding free trade and multilateralism while pursuing common well-being for the global community. Opening-up for Cooperation further focuses on “Reinvigorating Multilateral Cooperation.”, which represents a powerful call for the international order to rekindle its founding spirit of multilateral cooperation.

Qu Jian noted that global economic and trade development once again stands at a critical crossroads, facing new challenges in international cooperation. Open cooperation is even more instrumental in helping stakeholders seek consensus and jointly combat uncertain risks. Amid the current rise of anti-globalization headwinds where "security primacy" displaces "efficiency primacy" paradigms, the foundational principles of classical trade theory have been subverted. This necessitates an urgent imperative to reconstruct the intellectual bedrock through open cooperation. Consequently, the 8thHQF will constitute a strategically positioned global dialogue, enabling stakeholders to collectively address these anti-globalization currents and forge fresh pathways forward.