Wang Zhan at the Hongqiao Forum advises the international trade center to achieve “great radiation” in “great agglomeration”

At “the Construction of Hongqiao International Open Hub and the Regional Coordinated Development” session of the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, many of the speakers focused on Hongqiao Area as a great example of a functioning hub for both internal and external purposes. On the theme of “constructing the international-ranking central business district (CBD) in the new global situation,” they proposed suggestions on constructing a new platform of an internationalized CBD and an international trade center, further strengthening its global status, taking full advantage of opening to the outside world, promoting its functions as a hub of this region. Wang Zhan, Chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Social Sciences, was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the forum. 

 

Wang Zhan reminded the audience that, in the 14th Five-Year Plan, Shanghai was positioned to function as the central node for domestic circulation of goods and services, in addition to being the strategic link of domestic and international circulations. To this dual positioning, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) is vitally important. 

In February of this year, the central government officially announced the “Overall Plan for the Construction of Hongqiao International Open Hub” in which the overall layout of “one core and two belts” would enhance the CBD's functions in connection of international resource elements, high-end service supply, and headquarters economy, etc., thus promoting the collaboration and openness of the Yangtze River Delta at a higher level while continuously pushing the economic growth of the Yangtze River Delta.

Moreover, Wang Zhan believes the Hongqiao International Central Business District, the permanent site of the CIIE in years to come, is also located in the core area of the Yangtze River Delta. The Hongqiao International Open Hub and the CIIE can complement and promote each other. For instance, by mobilizing the whole Yangtze River Delta region to jointly build the Hongqiao International Open Hub, the domestic and international circulation strategic link can be enhanced and the agglomeration of resources can be maximized to exert a radiation effect, driving the domestic and international dual-circulation.

In expanding the spillover effect of the CIIE, the Hongqiao International Open Hub may strive to achieve “great radiation" in the course of “great agglomeration,” and, in turn, benefit the whole Yangtze River Delta, the whole country, and the whole Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, Hongqiao International Central Business District, as the core carrying area of the spillover effect of the CIIE, may also become a brand-new more open, more future-oriented business district.

In conclusion, Wang Zhan said that the CIIE was a showcase of China’s enormous demand. Consequently, exhibitors will most likely invest in China if they were duly impressed by the Chinese market. This will become the incremental investment in China’s domestic manufacturing industry. This new feature is of great inspiration to the construction of Shanghai International Trade Center. The Hongqiao International Central Business District will adapt to the results and build a new platform for the nascent international trade center.  

RELEASE TIME2022-02-21