The Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit Qingdao Forum, jointly hosted by the Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF) and Qingdao Municipal Government, was inaugurated in Qingdao International Conference Center on the morning of September 19. Under the theme of “New Changes, New Opportunities, New Economy—Co-build a New Win-Win International Cooperation Pattern under the Belt and Road Initiative”, prestigious entrepreneurs, experts and scholars from over 20 countries’ political, industrial, investment and academic circles exchanged opinions either face-to-face or screen-to-screen, forecast the development trends of global economy in the post-pandemic era and probed into new opportunities for cooperation and common development among Chinese and European entrepreneurs.

Long Yongtu, co-chairman of SIEF, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France, special envoy of President Emmanuel Macron to China and co-chairman of SIEF and Wang Qingxian, member of Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Party secretary of Qingdao attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister, UN special envoy for education and co-chairman of SIEF and Ma Jiantang, Party secretary and deputy director of Development Research Center of the State Council were also present. Chairman Yan, member of the 13th CPPCC Committee，Co-Chairman of the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong) was invited to attend the forum.

Long Yongtu extended congratulations to the opening ceremony of Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit Qingdao Forum in his speech. He said that we need to keep to the remarks President Xi Jinping made when he met EU leaders via video link, turn political commitment into concrete actions as well as feasible programs, connect hampered international trade and investments, disrupted global network of industrial chains and supply chains with national and multilateral institutions and strive for Sino-European cooperation in a down-to-earth manner.

Raffarin said in his speech that Sino-European cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, extensive common interests as well as a promising future. It is hoped that two sides will deepen pragmatic cooperation in co-implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting international trade and two-way investment and constructing smart cities etc., keep improving dialogue mechanisms and seek mutual benefit through win-win cooperation.

Wang Qingxian said in the speech that, as Sino-European relations displays positive signals, especially when China is vigorously coordinating domestic and international markets and resources and accelerating the establishment of a "dual circulation" development pattern in which domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while international economic cycle remains its extension and supplement, China and Europe will become important engines boosting economic resurgence in the world and embrace in-depth cooperation in broader fields, entrepreneurs will be greeted with new development opportunities in this new round of Sino-European cooperation.

At the forum, Chairman Yan Bin, together with many guests, gave a voice of firm openness and cooperation from the aspects of international relations and economic development. On the forum, the launching ceremony of Qingdao Sino-European Enterprises Innovative Cooperation Development Fund was held, the special committee for scientific and technological innovation of SIEF was unveiled and 17 Sino-foreign cooperation projects including Sino-European trade accelerator signed agreements.