Shanghai will spare no effort in creating a top-tier business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and international to foster better and greater development for enterprises in the city, Chen Jining, Party secretary of Shanghai, said recently.

Chen made the remarks during his meeting with Mark Tucker, chairman of HSBC Group, in Shanghai.

Chen warmly welcomed international financial institutions, including HSBC Group, to deepen cooperation in key areas such as technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance.

He emphasized the importance of these institutions innovating financial products, expanding their financial footprint, and establishing a significant presence in the city.

In response, Tucker reaffirmed HSBC's unwavering commitment to investing in China, highlighting Shanghai as a core business market and a pivotal location for future development.

He expressed the group's willingness to share its international experience with the city and outlined plans to deepen financial cooperation with Shanghai, particularly in green and low-carbon initiatives, technological innovation, elderly care services, and supporting enterprises in their global expansion.

Chen Jining (R), Party secretary of Shanghai, meets with Mark Tucker, chairman of HSBC Group, in Shanghai. [Photo by Chen Zhengbao]

Jan 22 — Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng and Shavkat Umurzakov, acting mayor of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, met in Shanghai and signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation.

Calling Tashkent a pivotal hub on the Silk Road, Gong emphasized the importance of strengthening exchanges and collaboration between the two cities in various fields.

Recognizing Tashkent's significance as a major economic force in Central Asia, Gong underscored its role as a key investment destination for Shanghai enterprises. He expressed the desire to deepen economic, trade, and industrial cooperation.

Gong extended a warm invitation for active participation by Tashkent enterprises in the China International Import Expo, bringing more goods and services to Shanghai.

Gong said he looked forward to Tashkent's continued support for Shanghai enterprises investing and growing in the Uzbek capital. He also expressed the aspiration to boost mutual tourism, fostering greater understanding and cooperation between the two nations and the two cities.

Umurzakov echoed the sentiment, expressing a shared desire to deepen exchanges in economic, social and cultural realms between the friendship cities. He warmly welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in Tashkent, anticipating expanded collaboration among their businesses.

The sisterhood between the two cities was established in 1994.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng signs a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with Shavkat Umurzakov, acting mayor of Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, in Shanghai on Jan 22, 2024. [Photo by Zhang Chunhai]

Jan 25 — Shanghai is set to prioritize advancing its economic and trade collaboration with Singapore to achieve win-win benefits for both sides, said Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng as he met with Edwin Tong, Singaporean Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and co-chairman of the Shanghai-Singapore Comprehensive Cooperation Council (SSCCC) .

During the meeting, Gong expressed his hope to enhance collaboration in urban governance, with a focus on exchanging insights in the realms of urban planning, renewal, and cultural inheritance.

With the SSCCC as a cooperation platform, Shanghai will prioritize advancing economic and trade collaboration with Singapore, Gong said.

He also invited Singaporean enterprises to actively participate in the annual China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Top-tier companies in Shanghai were also encouraged to invest in Singapore in order to foster mutually beneficial outcomes for the residents of both sides, Gong added.

Tong congratulated Shanghai on its economic and social accomplishments in the last year. He then went on to state that Singapore looks forward to a more substantial collaboration and fruitful outcomes through the SSCCC platform.

Officials from Singapore and Hua Yuan, vice mayor of Shanghai, were also present at the meeting.

From left: Low Yen Ling, Singaporean Minister of State for Trade and Industry & Culture, Community and Youth; Edwin Tong, Singaporean Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Co-Chairman of SSCCC; Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng, and Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan pose for a photo during the meeting. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghaifabu]

Jan 26 — Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, in Shanghai.

Acknowledging that Antigua and Barbuda was among the earliest countries in the eastern Caribbean region to establish diplomatic ties with China, Gong emphasized the nation's significance as a vital partner.

Gong said that Shanghai is eager to strengthen cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda in various fields such as infrastructure development, healthcare, new energy vehicles, agriculture, and tourism, by leveraging the opportunities presented by the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Enterprises from Antigua and Barbuda are welcome to introduce their distinctive goods and services to Shanghai and China through the platform of the China International Import Expo, Gong added.

Highlighting the remarkable transformation and development of China and Shanghai, Browne expressed the commitment of Antigua and Barbuda to be a reliable partner for China and to deepen strategic alignment for mutual progress.

Browne said that Antigua and Barbuda welcomes investments from Shanghai. He also invited Shanghai people to visit and explore his country.

Antigua and Barbuda looks forward to building itself as the medical and healthcare hub of the Caribbean with the support of China and Shanghai, he added.

Gong Zheng (right), mayor of Shanghai, meets with Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, in Shanghai on Jan 26. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghaifabu]