Chongqing - The 17th Annual Meeting of the Chongqing Mayor’s International Economic Advisory Council (CMIA) officially opened at the Chongqing Yuelai International Conference Center on September 22, under the theme of Development of Inland Opening Up Highland - Charting the Course for Foreign Trade Transformation and Upgrading.

The CMIA is a feast full of emotion that is “making new friends and never forgetting old friends,” an economic and trade event that reflects “the fire burns high when everyone brings wood to it,” a celebration full of wisdom that is “as bright as starlight and as gorgeous as summer flowers,” said Zhang Yongwu, secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce and secretary-general of the Secretariat of the CMIA.

“Sustainable” and “smart” became high-frequency words

At the meeting, advisors said that Chongqing’s foreign trade needs to be combined with increasing the international competitiveness of industrial products, resulting in “sustainable” and “smart” becoming high-frequency words in the discussion.

Being a part of the Mayor’s Council this year, Ernest Nicolas, Chief Supply Chain Officer of HP Inc., is more than excited. Nicolas has deep expertise in supply chain dynamics, flexibility, and resilience.

Nicolas thinks the development of Chongqing’s foreign trade is closely related to the high-quality development of the local manufacturing industry. Improving the efficiency of the manufacturing industry is the core of achieving high-quality development of the industry.

“HP has been here since 2008 manufacturing PCs,” he said at the opening ceremony. “From a collaboration perspective, we remain deeply committed to our operations in the city of Chongqing.”       

Ernest Nicolas, Chief Supply Chain Officer, HP Inc., delivered a speech during the opening ceremony of the 17th Annual Meeting of the CMIA on September 22. (Photo/ Chen Yuting)

In recent years, the global competitiveness of Chongqing's electronics industry has steadily improved, leading to continuous optimization of trade structure and significant improvement in quality and efficiency. "However, as the volume of foreign trade grows, how to improve cost advantages will be a top priority," said Saw Choon Seong, Global Vice President and President of China, Air Products.

“Prioritizing innovation and R&D to activate dynamics of green and low carbon innovation,” said Sabrina Soussan, Chairman and CEO of SUEZ. “We suggest attracting multinational companies and research institutions with these branches and R&D centers in Chongqing with a particular focus on green technology.”

For over 20 years, using smart technologies, SUEZ started working with the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government on a relatively small drinking water supply project for sewage treatment and industrial park environmental services. So far, Suez Group’s investment in Chongqing has exceeded 4 billion yuan.

“Chongqing is one of our most important investments in China, and our unwavering confidence in the city demonstrates our commitment to our long-term partnership,” said Soussan.

Sabrina Soussan, Chairman and CEO of SUEZ, delivered a speech during the opening ceremony of the 17th Annual Meeting of the CMIA on September 22. (Photo/ Chen Yuting)

Theme for 2024: Building a Modern Manufacturing Cluster System

According to Zhang, the 18th Annual Meeting of the CMIA is scheduled to be held on September 26-27, 2024, under the theme of Strategies and Measures for Building a Modern Manufacturing Cluster System.

Zhang continued that members of the CMIA will combine their understanding of the construction of a modern manufacturing cluster system and their summary of domestic and foreign development experience to discuss how to build a “33618” modern manufacturing cluster system, how to accelerate the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, and how to further improve the quality and efficiency of the manufacturing industry, etc., helping Chongqing to build an important national advanced manufacturing center.