Foreign diplomats in China expressed interest in cooperating with Shanghai's advanced manufacturing and technology companies during an industry cooperation forum on Friday, part of the inaugural 2024 "Global Insights into Chinese Enterprises" tour.

The envoys engaged in discussions with local firms specializing in robotics, green energy, smart healthcare, and other cutting-edge sectors, exploring possibilities for future collaboration.

"We are trying hard to build five international centers, namely the international economic center, international financial center, international trade center, international shipping center and international science and technology innovation center. In 2023, the scale of Shanghai's economy amounted to 4.72 trillion yuan ($650 billion)," said Kong Fu'an, director-general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

Miguel Angel Isidro, consul general of Mexico in Shanghai, expressed admiration for China's innovation-driven strategies. "China is Mexico's second-largest trading partner in the world, while Mexico is China's second-largest trading partner in Latin America. Investment has grown rapidly, and efforts will be made to offer more space to enhance the development of free trade between the companies from both countries," he added.

Chua Teng Hoe, consul general of Singapore in Shanghai, said the tour offered deep insights into the capabilities of Chinese enterprises, especially in Shanghai, highlighting the city's immense potential in realizing its ambition of becoming an international hub for the economy, finance, trade, shipping, and science and technological innovation.

"There are numerous opportunities for Singapore and Shanghai to cooperate, leveraging on our strategic position as the international gateway," he noted.

The "Global Insights into Chinese Enterprises" tour is an interactive exchange platform created by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to showcase the nation's modernization achievements, vision, and opportunities for cooperation with foreign diplomats. The latest session in Shanghai was co-hosted by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Shanghai Municipal Government, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, and the China State Shipbuilding Corporation.