The Sub-forum on Building the Hongqiao International Opening-up Hub and the HUB Conference 2026 will be held on Nov 6 during the 9th Hongqiao International Economic Forum, according to the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Commission.

This year's conference, themed "A World-Class Hub for Opening-Up: Hongqiao as a Strategic Pivot for Businesses Going Global", will focus on strengthening the Hongqiao International CBD's core functions, building a world-class opening-up hub, and making Hongqiao the first stop for Yangtze River Delta companies going global.

Jiang Xiaojuan, a professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former deputy secretary-general of the State Council, and Zhang Hui, president of Bank of China, will attend the forum to analyze Hongqiao's strategic position and the path to upgrading its function as an opening-up hub.

Ian Goldin, professor of globalization and development at Oxford University and former vice-president of the World Bank, will examine corporate global market choices and the building of competitive advantage amid the restructuring of the global economic and trade landscape.

Gordon Naylor, interim chief executive officer and managing director of CSL, and Zhou Yuxiang, founder and CEO of Black Lake Technologies, whose companies have established a presence in Hongqiao, will share their experiences across the entire process, from technology research and development to global expansion.

A HUB Dialogue session will bring together Piao Dongguo, president of CHC Navigation; Wang Kun, director and chief investment officer of GreenGrid; Wu Songhua, founder, chairman, and president of Sains Technology; Ji Feifeng, deputy director of the Bank of China Yangtze River Delta Financial Research Institute; and Chen Yi, chief partner of KPMG China for East and West China to discuss common pain points Chinese enterprises face when going global.

The Hongqiao International CBD will sign a coordinated development agreement with Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, to jointly enhance hub functions.

The conference will also feature the launch of a private enterprise globalization platform, jointly developed by the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, the Shanghai Hongqiao International CBD Administrative Commission, and Shanghai Land (Group) Co Ltd; the release of a 2026 white paper on building Hongqiao's overseas comprehensive service system by the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce; and the publication of a collection of globalization case studies of innovative Yangtze River Delta companies.

Source: Jiefang Daily