“The CIC Forum 2019: International Cross-Border Investment and Industrial Cooperation” was held on September 26, 2019 in Shanghai. The forum was hosted by China Investment Corporation (CIC), and co-hosted by Shenwan Hongyuan Group Co., Ltd., China International Capital Corporation limited (CICC), China Securities CO., Ltd. (CSC) and Galaxy Securities. Shanghai Municipal Government also provided valuable support. Senior representatives of government departments, financial institutions, and enterprises from dozens of countries around the globe gathered together to share their insights into cross-border investment and international industrial cooperation, as well as investment opportunities in several industries.

Opening remarks were delivered by the following: Ying Yong, Mayor of Shanghai; Peng Chun, Chairman and CEO of CIC; Ren Hongbin, Assistant Minister of Commerce of PRC; and Su Wei, Deputy Secretary General of NDRC.

In his speech, Chairman Peng said that CIC Forum aims to facilitate trade through investment and achieve “win-win” across economies and value chains. CIC has been adhering to market-oriented and commercial operation, creating synergy between outbound investment and inbound investment, expanding “China angle” investment proactively, and seeking innovative approaches for overseas investment via bilateral funds co-launched with top investment institutions in related countries. Chairman Peng encouraged all in attendance to work together to make CIC Forum an international, open and innovative platform for communication and cooperation in a bid to help foreign companies grow in China and vice versa.

Ren Hongbin, Assistant Minister of Commerce of PRC, pointed out that CIC had built a critical platform to promote cross-border investment and bridge communication and cooperation. In addition, Mr. Ren also introduced major steps taken and progress made on the Belt and Road Initiative and on trade and investment liberalization.

Su Wei, Deputy Secretary General of NDRC, stated that CIC Forum, as an open platform, helped connect China’s industrial and financial sectors with the rest of the world and enabled effective interactions between international industrial cooperation and bilateral investment.

Ying Yong, Mayor of Shanghai, expressed warm congratulations on the convening of the forum in Shanghai, and introduced the efforts that Shanghai made to further open its door to the world and to further open up its financial industry.

Over twenty senior attendees delivered speeches and shared their views on “Innovation of Cross-border Investment in the Context of International Trade Disputes” and “China’s Financial Openness and International Industrial Cooperation” during the keynote addresses and panel discussions. The speakers said that under the complicated circumstances of cross-border investment, the “bilateral fund” model is an important new way for outbound investment that could unite CIC with the leading financial institutions in relevant countries, focus on industries with complementarities, create value through galvanizing resources, and increase investment efficiency by aligning interest. Many institutions expressed their interest in working with the US-China Industrial Cooperation Fund, Japan-China Cooperation Fund, UK-China Cooperation Fund, and France-China Cooperation Fund to further strengthen connections and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The four parallel panels focused on Financial Openness, Consumer Services & Healthcare, Manufacturing & TMT, and Infrastructure and Logistics, which aim to enhance communication and connections among industrial peers. The Forum also arranged more than 200 “one-on-one” meetings. Field trips to several areas in Shanghai were also arranged for participants to get a first-hand experience of the region’s industrial development.

CIC’s Executive Vice President Liu Jun, Executive Vice President Qi Bin, and Chief Risk Officer Zhao Haiying hosted the panels. Department and team heads of CIC also joined the panel discussions. Members of the International Advisory Board of CIC, including Knut Kjaer, John Maree and Omari Issa were in attendance and delivered speeches. The forum attracted more than a thousand attendees, including government officials and senior executives from major financial institutions and enterprises.