The World Free Zone (Hengqin) Summit 2018 was held in Zhuhai from Oct 29 to 31 with keynote speeches on Future Leadership of Emerging FTZs, Implications of the New Economy on FTZs, and the Future of Trade & Logistics.

The summit theme was: One Belt, One Zone: New Era, New Cooperation, New Development. Gathered at the Zhuhai Marriott Hotel in Jida were more than 300 representatives from domestic and foreign FTZs, World Top 500 companies, transnational corporations, and universities and scientific research institutions.

Nearly 20 renowned experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs delivered speeches including the Evolution & Design of Free Zones in China, Present to Future; Free Zone 4.0; Investment Opportunities for China in Foreign Free Zones & Special Economic Zones; and Improving Competitiveness in Free Zones -- Special Focus on China.  

Dr Samir Hamrouni, center, World Free Zone (Hengqin) Summit

Experts included Dr Samir Hamrouni, CEO of the World Free Zones Organization (FZO); Huo Jianguo, vice chairman of the China Society for WTO Studies; and Bai Ming of the Chinese Academy of International Trade & Economic Cooperation.

For the first time, the discussion session brought 12 domestic and over 20 overseas FTZs face-to-face for intensive dialogues. 

Now that the summit has ended, field trips are being taken to pilot FTZs in Zhuhai, Shanghai, Xi'an, Sanya, Chengdu, Tianjin, and Xiamen, according to Tony Lee, secretary-general of the World FZO China Regional Office at Kimka Creative Valley in Qianshan of Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai.

The event was organized by the World FZO with the support of the General Affairs Office of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The World FZO was registered in Geneva, Switzerland in 2014. Headquartered in Dubai, it is an independent non-profit organization.

Huo Jianguo speaks about free trade zones

On-stage discussions [Photos courtesy WeChat account: zgydylnjbwh]