Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair

On June 15th, 2023, the opening ceremony of the 32nd Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair is grandly held in Harbin. Xu Qin, Secretary to the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Congress, attends, gives his welcoming speech, and announces the opening of HTF. Liang Huiling, Governor of Heilongjiang Province, presides over the opening ceremony.

Mr. Shinko, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus (Guest of Honor) to China, Mr. Kozhemyako , Governor of Primorsky Krai of Russia, Mr. Na Lagawadorji, Governor of Selenge Province of Mongolia, Mr. Shinichi Hamasaka, Deputy Governor of Hokkaido of Japan, Liang Yaowen, Executive Councillor of Pahang State Government of Malaysia, and Huang Min, Executive Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen (City of Honor), deliver their speeches respectively. The opening ceremony is attended physically by the following distinguished quests, 500 people in total, including government representatives and heads of agencies stationed in China from countries and international organizations such as Russia, North Korea, France, South Korea, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, relevant Chinese ministries, leaders and guests from 24 provinces and cities including Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Fujian, Henan, Hainan, Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang, two academicians, experts and scholars, key exhibitors, and purchasers, partners, representatives of enterprises, representatives of national business associations, overseas Chinese leaders, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan businessmen, media reporters, and leaders of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Congress, Provincial Government, and Provincial Political Consultative Conference.

Xuqin, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, points out that Heilongjiang has fully implemented the important directive spirit of the General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech and the strategic deployment of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, always adhered to reform and opening up policies, accelerated the construction and opening up of Heilongjiang, worked hard to promote high-quality revitalization and development and the construction of a modern and strong province, and deeply integrated itself into the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. We work together to promote the construction of the "China Mongolia Russia Economic Corridor" and strengthen economic and trade cooperation between China and countries and regions around the world, promote high-quality development of bilateral and multilateral trade. Since its establishment in 1990, 31 sessions of HTF have been successfully held, attended by over 6 million Chinese and foreign merchants from over 110 countries and regions. The cumulative transaction volume has reached nearly 3 trillion yuan, making HTF a national and international economic and trade event. HTF has become an important platform for China to connect with the world market and for countries to share the fruits of China's development.

Secretary Xu Qin also states that Heilongjiang has unique geographical advantages, abundant endowed resources, strong scientific and educational powers, solid industrial foundation, excellent ecological environment, huge development potential, and broad cooperation space. Heilongjiang will work together with all parties to create a marketized, legalized, and internationalized first-class business environment, assisting more domestic and foreign merchants to share investment opportunities, create rich wealth, and reap the joy of success in this entrepreneurial land.
Governor Liang Huiling expresses that the HTF is an important international open cooperation platform for China. The General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that we should pay attention to building cooperation platforms and support the successful hosting of important exhibitions such as the China Russia Expo and the HTF. Since its inception, HTF has developed from its initial stage of commodity trading to that of industrial cooperation, financial cooperation, scientific and technological cooperation, and then to that of comprehensive cooperation in regional cooperation, tourism, culture, and other fields. HTF has made positive contributions to serving the country's high-level opening up and promoting countries to share the fruits of China's opening-up and development by actively connecting with the "Belt and Road" initiative and participating in the construction of the "China Mongolia Russia Economic Corridor". It has become an important stage for international economic and trade cooperation in the country and a window for Heilongjiang to open up to the outside world. At present, it is the best opportunity period for open cooperation in Heilongjiang, with high-quality development as the main line, the economic and social operation is stable and improving; we are to accelerate the construction of the "4567" modern industrial system, and the four major industries of digital, biological, ice and snow, and creative design are becoming new engines of economic growth. With the deep promotion of all-round and high-level opening up policies, foreign trade and investment are growing strongly, and the international "circle of friends" continues to expand, which helps to promote the practice of Chinese path to modernization in Heilongjiang. He hopes everyone can feel the vibrant vitality of Heilongjiang and continue to pay attention to and support its opening, revitalization, and development.
Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce, says in a video address that opening up is one of China's basic national policies and the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee and the provincial government attach great importance to these policies, and put forward the goal of accelerating the construction of a high-level open Heilongjiang and creating a new highland for the country's opening up to the north. Heilongjiang province has unique location advantages, good resource endowment and great potential for open economic development. The Ministry of Commerce will continue to support Heilongjiang Province and Harbin in giving play to their own advantages, promoting economic and industrial development with high-level opening-up, and instilling new impetus into the comprehensive revitalization of the Northeast. He hopes that the attending guests can make good use of the HTF platform, promote complementary advantages, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and reap fruitful results.
Zhang Xiangchen, the Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization, delivers his video speech stating that global trade is currently in a period of rapid development and change. Changes in security and values of trade are taking place, and technological progress is reshaping production and trade. However, the overall trend of globalization remains the same, the direction of efforts to facilitate trade and investment will not change, and neither will the international cooperation based on rules. Heilongjiang Province is promoting the construction of the "Open Heilongjiang" and "Free Trade Pilot Zone", and the level of trade and investment facilitation has been constantly enhanced. He believes that the HTF, with its first offline fair being held after the COVID-19, will become a valuable platform for delegations and entrepreneurs from participating countries to explore new opportunities and to pursue new cooperation, and will further promote the growth of international trade and cross-border investment.
Ren Hongbin, President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, expresses in his video address that Northeast Area Revitalization Plan is an important integral part of the national regional coordinated development strategy. Heilongjiang has superior geographical conditions, good resource endowment, strong industrial foundation and beautiful ecological environment. In recent years, being a fertile land for investment and development, Heilongjiang has deepened its reform and opening up, optimized its development environment, accelerated the construction of a modern industrial system, and vigorously embarked on a new path of comprehensive and all-round revitalization. Looking ahead, Heilongjiang has a broader development space and a very bright future. As a well-known international large-scale economic and trade exhibition, HTF acts as an important carrier for Heilongjiang to accelerate comprehensive opening up and investment promotion, promote industrial upgrading; it is also an important platform for the Northeast region to seize opportunities and accelerate the realization of comprehensive revitalization and all-round revitalization. This HTF highlights the all-round opening up to the outside world, fully showcasing the high-quality development achievements of Heilongjiang, and building a platform for communication and cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises. We hope that all attending guests will actively explore cooperation opportunities and work together to open up broader development space.
Lee Ka Chiu John, Chief Executive of HKSAR delivers his video speech saying that Hong Kong is the most important source of foreign investment in Heilongjiang Province and serves as a preferred platform for Heilongjiang enterprises to expand their overseas markets. The HKSAR government attaches importance to the cooperation with Heilongjiang, and with the great support from Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee, People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province and the all sectors of the community, the Hong Kong Liaison Office in Liaoning is in all-around contact with the community in Heilongjiang to promote cooperation and exchange. HTF has enjoyed a long history and succeeded in establishing significant international platform a long time ago. The Hong Kong Liaison Office in Liaoning has actively participated in the HTF for consecutive years, showcasing Hong Kong’s latest development in culture, art, innovation, technology, and other fields to both domestic and foreign audiences. We are looking forward to continuing cooperation between Heilongjiang and Hong Kong, sharing and creating new opportunities and patterns for development.
Senko, Ambassador of Belarus to China addresses that the Republic of Belarus is the Guest of Honor of the 32nd HTF. Heilongjiang Province and Belarus have maintained close exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science, technology, culture, etc. for many years. During the state visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belarusian President Lukashenko signed a joint declaration on furthering the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era on March 1, 2023, and a historic leap has been made concerning the relationship between China and Belarus. Local cooperation serves as an important engine for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations. We, the Republic of Belarus, hope to continue the economic and trade cooperation with Heilongjiang, jointly implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, expanding investment, promoting tourism growth and local cooperation, and continuously deepening our bilateral relations.
Kozhemyako, Governor of Primorsky Krai of Russia expressed that the 32nd HTF has attracted many countries and regions to participate in, fully reflecting the common will of many countries to resume and deepen bilateral relations after experiencing the Covid-19 epidemic. It is an excellent chance to communicate with our potential partners, and to exhibit our investment and cooperation potential and key economic and trade projects in relation to infrastructure, industrial zone, logistics and transportation, agriculture and tourism at this HTF. In addition, through HTF, it is expected that a new vitality is instilled into the in-depth development of friendly relations between China and Russia, Heilongjiang and Primorsky Krai. We hope that the active participation of other provinces in China will create more new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, etc.
Na Lagawadorj, governor of Selenge Aymag, Mongolia addresses that Selenge Aymag and Heilongjiang have established a brotherly and friendly cooperative relationship since 2014. We hope to develop a broader cooperative relationship with People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province, local people as well as various enterprises of Heilongjiang, and conduct cooperation on bilateral exchanges, local citizens and national issues with Heilongjiang Province.
Shinichi Hamasaka, Deputy governor of Hokkaido, Japan addresses that HTF is the largest comprehensive economic and trade exhibition in Heilongjiang Province. We introduced such superior local products as Hokkaido rice, Japanese sake and desserts to participate at the HTF, and we will present the beautiful landscape of Hokkaido and the unique Ainu and rope culture to distinguished guests. This year marks the 37th anniversary of the friendship between Heilongjiang Province and Hokkaido. Over the past 37 years, Heilongjiang and Hokkaido have maintained sincere cooperation and conducted fruitful exchanges. We hope the strong ties that have been meticulously woven between the two regions so far can be inherited, and both sides can carry out more active and friendly exchanges in various fields, and promote bilateral development to a higher level.
Leung Yaowen, Executive Councilor of the Pahang State Government, Malaysia, states that reviewing its 33 year’s history, the HTF has become an important platform for linking the economy and trade of Northeast Asia. During the state visit in April, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar reached an important consensus on jointly building a community with a shared future between two countries and opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. We are willing to take the HTF as an opportunity to work together with our partners in Heilongjiang and further strengthen connectivity, economic and trade investment, industrial development and cultural exchanges so as to gain mutual benefit, achieve common development and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future between Malaysia and China.
Huang Min, Executive Vice Mayor of Shenzhen states that Shenzhen and Harbin established a comprehensive counterpart cooperation relationship in 2017, forming cooperation mechanism in respects of regular leader visits, close contact among various departments, enterprise entities and market-oriented operation, etc. In April, Secretary Xu Qin and Governor Liang Huiling led a party and government delegation of Heilongjiang Province to Guangdong and Shenzhen for investigation and guidance, and Heilongjiang-Guangdong Industrial Cooperation and Exchange Conference was successfully held in Shenzhen. We hope to take this HTF as an opportunity to promote cooperation between Shenzhen and Harbin as well as other cities at home and abroad on a larger scale, in a wider field and at a deeper level. I sincerely hope more people would take part in the cooperation between Shenzhen and Harbin as usual by making investment and conducting business in Shenzhen and Harbin, sharing new opportunity for development and working together for bright future.
This 32nd HTF, themed by “Co-build a New High-standard Opening-up Platform, Share New Opportunities for High-quality Development”, occupies an exhibition area of 360,000 square meters, including its main venue and sub-venues. It is expected that over 7,000 buyers from various industries and 200, 000 enthusiastic visitors will participate in the fair.