The 2025 Annual Session of the Wuxi National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone International Advisory Consultative Committee convened on Nov 18, bringing together a high-level group of global executives and institutional leaders to chart the next phase of the area's high-quality growth.

Held under the theme "Connecting the World, Inspiring the Future", the event hosted around 50 guests, including senior executives from Fortune Global 500 companies, representatives of international consulting firms, and leaders of major business associations. The gathering served as a platform to incorporate global insights into the area's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

During the session, executives from nine multinational companies, namely GE Healthcare, Panasonic, LG Chem China Investment, Life Sciences Business of Merck, Denso, Vibracoustic SE, Infineon Technologies, LX Hausys, and Kongsberg Automotive, were appointed as the new cohort of the committee's consultants.

Meanwhile, Shinhan Bank, SEMI, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, GLP, Cushman & Wakefield, KPMG, Savills, Mizuho Bank, and PwC were named Global Investment Promotion Partners, joining the area in advancing global investment cooperation.

Discussions throughout the session centered on aligning global expertise with local practice. Representatives of SK Hynix, GE Healthcare, Panasonic, the China-Asia Economic Development Association, AstraZeneca, Life Sciences Business of Merck, Kobelco, Vibracoustic SE, Infineon Technologies, Kongsberg Automotive, SEMI, and MSIG discussed topics such as collaboration in industrial-chain innovation, future industry planning, and the integration of cross-border resources. Their recommendations are expected to support the area in cultivating new growth drivers and building an open, innovation-led economy during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

The area's progress during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) reflects its expanding global reach. Over the past five years, the area attracted more than $5 billion in registered foreign investment — about one-third of Wuxi's total. Annual foreign trade has remained above 350 billion yuan ($49.23 billion), accounting for over 51 percent of the city's total.

The area is now home to nearly 1,900 foreign-invested enterprises, including 128 Fortune Global 500 companies with more than 200 investment projects. These enterprises contribute nearly 60 percent of the area's total industrial output and 80 percent of its imports and exports. The area also hosts 24 provincial-level regional headquarters and functional institutions of multinational corporations, representing 45.3 percent of Wuxi's total.

The area has additionally secured several national and provincial-level platforms, including designation as a National Foreign Trade Transformation and Upgrade Base for Integrated Circuits and Biopharmaceuticals, a National Demonstration Zone for Import Trade Promotion and Innovation, and a Provincial Cluster for Foreign-Invested Headquarters Economy.

Since its establishment in 1998, the International Advisory Consultative Committee has played a pivotal role in the area's development, offering forward-looking advice and facilitating major international partnerships. This year's session further strengthened strategic trust between the area and the global business community, reinforcing the region's commitment to building a world-class, innovation-driven hub.