(Yicai Global) Oct. 19 -- The 32nd International Business Leaders’ Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai kicked off online yesterday because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Around 40 entrepreneurs from 20 cities worldwide offered their takes on Shanghai’s development at the meeting to advance the city in joining hands with international entrepreneurs to tackle challenges in seeking development.

The meeting's topics for discussion this year are 'Opportunities and Challenges for Shanghai's Development Brought About by Changes in the International Situation,' 'Upgrading Shanghai's Industrial Structure in Combination With the Development of Key Areas' and 'Enhancing the Resilience of Shanghai.'

The pandemic has impacted and imposed challenges to the whole world, testing countries’ public health emergency response systems and levels of urban governance, international advisers noted. The coronavirus has made the world aware of the importance of health and risk prevention and highlighted the need for furthering global cooperation and promoting economic globalization. With its significant influence, Shanghai has rich experience in pandemic prevention and control to share with the rest of the world. The city has done a great job in resuming production and business, thus demonstrating its comprehensive strength.

As China's largest economic central city, Shanghai could not have achieve such great results in development without its close contacts with the country and the world, and its value inheres in the functional services it provides to the country and the globe, Li Qiang, secretary of its municipal party committee, noted, saying the coronavirus has blocked the flow of people, but not the exchange of ideas and wisdom or deep friendship.

Shanghai will not close its doors to the rest of the world, but rather open them wider and never cease taking firmer steps to seek high-quality growth, said Gong Zheng, the city’s deputy party secretary, noting the city will listen to the specialized insights of members and guests and convert valuable advice into policies to boost the city’s progress.

These annual meetings were initiated in 1989 by then Shanghai Mayor Zhu Rongji and have since served as a platform for business executives to put forward advice for the city on how to prosper, and for the city's leaders to show determination and receptive attitudes towards the latest input from all sides.

Editor: Ben Armour