GASME News

Chairman Magariños Attended the Fourth World Association President Conference

The fourth World Association President Conference was held on December 9th, 2023 in Hangzhou.

The conference was jointly hosted by Hangzhou Municipal People's Government, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation of Ministry of Industry and Informational Technology and China Association of Social Workers, with Global Alliance of SMEs, China International Public Relations Association and AmCham Shanghai as supporting organizations.

Under the theme of “Championing the Development of an Open World Economy: the Mission of Social Organizations”, nearly a thousand senior executives from social organizations at home and abroad attended the conference. Carlos Magariños, GASME Global Chairman and former UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) Director General, was invited to attend the conference and delivered a keynote speech on “Join Hands to Tackle Challenges, Work Together to Promote Sustainable Development of the World Economy”.

Yao Gaoyuan, Mayor of Hangzhou city pointed out in his speech that we should pave the way for connectivity through open cooperation, build a bridge for mutual consultation and win-win cooperation through industrial connections, and build a platform of integration and mutual benefits through cultural exchanges. He sincerely looks forward to the introduction of more international organizations and the landing of more international activities by the presidents in Hangzhou; welcomes all enterprises to develop in Hangzhou and all experts to start businesses in Hangzhou; and hopes that all global partners can work together with Hangzhou to expand the cultural exchange circle, inject new momentum into cultural development, and create a good example of cultural cooperation.

Li Xikui, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, stated in his speech that this conference is of great significance in promoting China's high-level opening up to the outside world, accelerating high-quality development, and promoting countries around the world to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Chairman Magariños pointed out in his keynote speech that it is of great significance to hold this conference, contributing to the exchanges and cooperation among global business associations and the economic development of China, the Asia-Pacific region and the world. In October this year, UNIDO Director-General Mueller visited China and met with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on deepening practical cooperation and jointly signed the Framework for Strategic Cooperation between the Government of People's Republic of China and UNIDO for 2023-2025. Mueller expressed his willingness to work with China to implement the eight major steps announced by President Xi at the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in support of joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Under the Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative framework, China's successful experience would be shared with other developing members of the world through the UNIDO platform in such areas as poverty alleviation, food security, industrialization and sustainable energy. And since China joined UNIDO in 1973, it has jointly implemented many successful model projects with UNIDO, playing a positive role in promoting the economic and social development of China and other developing countries. As former Director-General of UNIDO, he expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government for its support and cooperation with UNIDO.

Chairman Magariños stated that curbing the global crisis and boosting the world economy require joint actions by the United Nations and its international organizations, developed countries and the vast number of developing countries, which is the only way to lead the world to overcome the current challenges and build a safer, stronger, more resilient, more inclusive and healthier future for all humanity. As "one of the three cornerstones of the market economy", the world's business associations should play a significant role in participating in global governance and promoting sustainable development.

For that, Chairman Magariños made five suggestions. First, business associations should provide their member enterprises with more and better services, including policy consultation, market information, professional training, industry research, resource integration and other aspects. Second, business associations should step up their efforts to make greater contributions to poverty alleviation and social welfare. Third, business associations should actively guide, regulate, promote, and supervise enterprises in protecting the environment, in order to promote sustainable development of the world environment. Fourth, As a business association that gathers social elites and high-quality resources, it should provide all-round support for technological innovation of enterprises in the areas of international resource integration, introduction of international talents, and capital financing. Fifth, global business associations should strengthen international cooperation. International cooperation has become a necessary means for countries and business associations to jointly address global challenges and promote common development. GASME stands ready to work closely with local governments, international organizations, and business associations of all countries to help international cooperation and exchanges among global SMEs, so as to promote the implementation of BRI and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At the panel discussion, Chen Zhilie, National People's Congress representative, Chairman of Guangdong Federation of Industry and Commerce, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Advantech Group, Mao Jianhong, Chairman of Zhejiang Port Group and Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group, Zhang Xiaomeng, Vice Chairman and Senior Engineer of Anheng Information Technology Co., Ltd., Sean Stein, Chairman of the Shanghai American Chamber of Commerce and former Consul General of the United States Consulate General in Shanghai, Atul Dalakoti, the President of the China Region of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, expressed their unique insights on their respective areas of concern.

During the convention, representatives of business associations from all over the world also jointly read out the Hangzhou Initiative to Promote the Building of an Open World Economy.