GASME News

World Business Association President Convention 2022 Held in Hangzhou

The 3^rd World Business Association President Convention was held on 10 December at Zhejiang Great Hall of the People in Hangzhou.

The convention was jointly hosted by Hangzhou Municipal People's Government, China Chamber of International Commerce, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Global Alliance of SMEs. The organizer was Hangzhou Public Relations Association.

Under the theme of “Building a Community of Human Destiny in the Context of Digitalization: the Mission and Responsibility of Social Organizations”, the convention aims to formulate a high-end cooperation and exchange platform for global business associations, promote global digital trade, build a community of shared future for mankind and inject new momentum into the growth of the world economy.

Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee and President of China Association for Science and Technology (video), Christian Wulff, former German President and Global President of GASME (video), Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (video), Zhou Guohui, Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang CPPCC, Sun Xudong, Deputy Mayor of Hangzhou Municipal People's Government, Yu Jianlong, Vice President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (video), Li Xikui, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (video), Wu Hongbo, President of China Public Relations Association (video) and other important guests addressed speeches on the convention. More than 10 ambassadors to China, commercial counsellors with the rank of minister, heads of international organizations, presidents of domestic and foreign business associations, experts and scholars delivered keynote speeches.

Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee and President of China Association for Science and Technology, pointed out that the world in this era is experiencing historical changes in an unprecedented way. As important participants in global governance, international organizations and business associations are granted new responsibilities and historical missions. He hoped that international organizations and business associations of all kinds will actively support global development initiatives and adhere to the right direction of economic globalization. On the basis of joint consultation, mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation should be developed, to strengthen exchanges and understanding. International organizations and business associations should work together to create an international environment conducive to peaceful development and enhance people's well-being.

Christian Wulff, former German President and Global President of GASME, noted that international organizations and chambers of commerce are important forces in promoting economic globalization. They should oppose unilateralism, strengthen cooperation and contribute their wisdom and strength to the common prosperity of the world economy and the achievement of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. China has become Germany's most important trading partner for six consecutive years. The bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached 245.4 billion euros in 2021. More than 5,000 German companies are currently investing in China and more than 2,000 Chinese companies are investing in Germany, playing an important role in the stable economic growth of both countries. Chancellor Schulz's visit to China last month sent a positive signal for the relationship as well as the economic and trade exchanges between China and Germany.

Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that China is a strong supporter and role model for the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. China's Belt and Road Initiative has made an important contribution to a community of shared future for mankind. Chambers of commerce and business associations are social organizations that represent tens of millions of enterprises worldwide, and are important forces in global governance. Therefore, this convention is of great practical significance and far-reaching historical value in better addressing the pressing challenges faced by humanity, opening up and strengthening the extensive and institutional cooperation of global NGOs, and promoting the active participation of social organizations in global governance.

The signing ceremony was held at the convention, in which the Hangzhou Public Relations Association and more than 10 well-known business associations, including Global Alliance of SMEs, signed a strategic cooperation agreement to build a platform for the World Business Association President Convention; the World Business Association Presidents (Hangzhou) Initiative was announced in the presence of more than 20 presidents of business associations; in addition, the first day cover of the 2022 World Business Association President Convention was also released.

The convention was held in the form of "main venue + sub-venues", with the main venue in Hangzhou, and 21 sub-venues in 10 provinces (cities) and autonomous regions, including Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Fujian, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, Chongqing, Jilin, Inner Mongolia and Hubei, and 11 overseas countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and South Africa. A total of 21 sub-venues were set up in 11 overseas countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and South Africa. In total, more than 700,000 people participated in online and offline discussions.