Aug 19 – Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Marc N. Casper, chairman and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a United States-based life science and clinical research company.

During their meeting, Gong said biomedicine is one of Shanghai's three leading industries, and scientific instruments play an essential role in the development of the biomedicine industry.

Gong stated that Shanghai will intensify research on core technologies, expand application scenarios, and accelerate upgrades to scientific instruments. He encouraged Thermo Fisher Scientific to increase its investment in the city and to bring more resources, major projects, and business functions related to scientific instruments and biomedicine.

Gong expressed hope that Thermo Fisher Scientific would help Shanghai develop into an international science and technology innovation center by bringing more global R&D resources to the city and promoting the commercialization of innovations.

Casper said China is Thermo Fisher Scientific's second-largest market worldwide, and the company will further increase its R&D investment in Shanghai and help leading local biopharmaceutical companies enter international markets, benefiting patients in China and the world at large.

Aug 19 – Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and his delegation in Shanghai.

During their meeting, Gong called for stronger cooperation between Shanghai and Jordan in trade and industrial investment. He said the two sides should seize the opportunity presented by the Belt and Road Initiative to support companies investing and operating in each other's markets, particularly in sectors such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, green energy, and infrastructure.

Gong also welcomed more Jordanian companies to participate in the China International Import Expo and called for closer exchanges between the two sides in education, culture, and tourism.

King Abdullah II said technological innovation is a hallmark of Shanghai. He added that meetings with companies during his visit demonstrated broad prospects for cooperation.

Jordan is ready to further expand cooperation with Chinese companies, promote bilateral trade and investment, and strengthen exchanges in talent, culture, and tourism, he said.

Aug 20 – Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Roy-Gilchrist Noboa Azin and his delegation in Shanghai.

During their meeting, Gong said that Shanghai and Ecuador maintain close ties. Shanghai has established a friendship-city relationship with Guayaquil and maintained friendly exchanges with Quito, with the bilateral sides engaging in extensive practical cooperation.

Noting that Ecuador is an important trading partner of China in Latin America, Gong called for stronger cooperation between Shanghai and Ecuador in trade and industrial investment. He welcomed more Ecuadorian companies to attend the CIIE and a wider range of Ecuadorian products to be showcased at the expo.

Gong also called for enhanced exchanges and cooperation among young people and in areas such as culture and the arts, as well as greater two-way tourism.

Noboa said cities across Ecuador were eager to learn from Shanghai's development experience. He said Ecuador will deepen exchanges with China and Shanghai and improve communication and dialogue channels.