Knowledge forum boosts China-Singapore collaboration in GBA

On the theme of Fostering new‘dual circulation’ development paradigm and exploring new opportunities for China-Singapore collaboration, the 8th China-Singapore Knowledge Forum was held in Guangzhou on October 20.

This forum aimed at discussing how to play the role of China-Singapore cooperation, especially China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC), in connecting domestic economic circle and international economic circle, attracting more international resources and helping Chinese enterprises go global. Around 6,000 guests from both Singapore and China attended this meeting online and offline.

Loh Tuck Keat, the Consul General of the Republic of Singapore in Guangzhou, said that against the backdrop of higher-level opening up in the Chinese market, registered Singaporean entities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) saw steady growth during these years, which made more room for China-Singapore cooperation.“Close cooperation between Singapore and Guangdong will bring more mutual-benefits and synergy.”

Zheng Yong, Director General of CSGKC Office of Collaboration Affairs, introduced that the number of market entities in CSGKC has rocketed up to over 6,000, with registered capital of 50 billion RMB and 24 thousand entities in total.

“In terms of integrated circuit, a semi-conductor industrial park taking up 6.6 square kilometer has been planned to build into a hub of integrated circuits in the GBA and the 3rd core of that in China. As for new energy cars, the first global auto communication service platform of Baidu’s Apollo has been settled here, and the main building of Xpeng, one of China’s leading smart electric vehicle companies, has already roofed,” Zheng said in the hope of building CSGKC into the top choice for Singapore to enter Chinese market and the connection between domestic economic circle in the GBA and China-ASEAN economic circle.

The forum also included two panel discussion sessions with the theme of“Exploring new opportunities for China-Singapore collaboration in light of the dual circulation paradigm” and “New generation, new paradigm, new opportunities, new challenges” respectively.

Professionals and youths from CSGKC, investment firms, chamber and business fields which are either based in the Greater Bay Area or rich in experience regarding China-Singapore cooperation participated in the panel discussion and shed insight into the topics.

Chen Changxin, the Party Secretary and Chairman of Knowledge City (Guangzhou) Investment Group Co., Ltd., and Chief Executive Officer of CSGKC Investment and Development Co., Ltd., shared that Singapore and Guangdong were close in geographic location, leading to a similar commercial culture and more convenience for cooperation.

“Singapore is advanced in urban development and innovation, while GBA boasts solid industrial foundation and large market scale. Therefore, large potentials are waiting Singapore and GBA ahead. As three key industries in CSGKC, new energy & new materials, semi-conductor and nanotechnology share promising future with Singapore companies,” he further explained.

Ong Tze Guan, Chairperson of Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (SingCham), stressed that China and Singapore should strengthen collaboration in the distribution of water resources, new energy and carbon technology to achieve carbon neutrality and CSGKC’s sustainable development goal.

This event was hosted by China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC), organized by CSGKC Center of Excellence for Software Transfer and co-organized by CSGKC Investment and Development Co., Ltd and Business China (Singapore) under the guidance of Foreign Affairs Office of People's Government of Guangdong Province, Enterprise Singapore and Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipal Government.