Go global, Go Nordic. In light of the Chinese Enterprises Go-Global Strategy and the Belt & Road Initiative, the China Hi-Tech Fair 2018 in Iceland, in Norway and in Sweden wound up with high acclaims early this June.   

Led by Mr. Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, a Chinese delegation of in total 81 business leaders from 3 provinces and 9 cities took part in the events. Businessmen and political leaders from Iceland, Norway and Sweden joined their Chinese counterparts and had extensive exchanges on artificial intelligence, clean energy, finance and investment, life science, innovation and start-up business on the respective forum under the umbrella of the Fair. The Forums and meetings were warmly received by the local governments and businesses. A total of over 100 business match making meetings were successfully staged and the popularity of the CHTF 2018 rose to a new height in the Nordic regions. In addition to the fruitful visits to leading companies and industrial parks, the business delegation also met with senior officials in Iceland, Norway and Sweden, both at the national level and from local authorities.      

Thanks to the generous support from committed co-sponsors in the three countries, i.e. the Foreign Ministry of Iceland, Innovation Norway and Invest Stockholm, the CHTF 2018 in Iceland, in Norway and in Sweden have proved to be a sensational experience to the high profile speakers and participants composed by business leaders and leading figures in the innovation sector.     

The China Hi-Tech Fair 2018 in Iceland 

In their addresses to the China Hi-Tech Fair 2018 in Iceland, Mrs. Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister for Tourism, Industry and Innovation, Mr. Jin Zhijian, Ambassador of China in Iceland, and Mr. Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government extended warm congratulations to the event. Mr. Chen Biao, on behalf of the municipality, reviewed on the city’s latest progress in technology innovation , extending an official invitation to those interested in growing with the CHTF, China’s No.1 Technology Show, to be convened this November in the City of Innovation and Technology. Mr. Su Yanwei, Vice Director of China Hi-Tech Fair Organizing Committee Office, presented an informative briefing on highlights of the previous CHTF, asking Icelandic businesses with interests in international cooperation to personally come for the growing platform of cooperation opportunities. In his speech Iceland, open for business, Mr. Jón Ásbergsson, Managing Director from Promote Iceland elaborated on the investment policies and potentials in Iceland, casting lights for potential investment from China. 

Representatives from senior managements of Marel, a leading provider of food processing systems and services, Stokkur software, and Huawei for Iceland shared valuable experiences in Iceland-China technology cooperation. Also in the forum, Iceland DTE, KLAPPIR, Shenzhen Urban Transportation Planning Center(SUTPC) and Zhuhai BY-HEALTH launched an engaging promotion on their respective projects to both Chinese and Iceland entrepreneurs.   

Among all the distinguished guests, the Forum had the honorable presence of Mr. Sturla Sigurjónsson, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Sigríður Valgeirsdóttir, Specialist of the Department of Industries and Innovation, Ministry of Industries and Innovation, Mr. Thorsteinn Ingi Sigfússon, Director General of Innovation Center Iceland, Mr. Kristinn Jón Ólafsson, Department of Innovation in Reykjavík and Mr. Ólafur Stephensen, Director of Icelandic Chinese Trade Council, to name just a few.   

In his official meetings with Mrs. Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister for Tourism, Industry and Innovation and Mr. Sturla Sigurjónsson, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Mr Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government had an in-depth exchange of views on strengthening bilateral cooperation in AI, energy saving, environmental protection, and scientific innovation, etc.    

Mr. Jin Zhijian, Ambassador of China in Iceland appreciated the success of the CHTF 2018 in Iceland and referred to it as “the largest high-tech event in Iceland hosted by the Chinese side”.  

The CHTF 2018 in Norway 

Mr. Roy Angelvik, State Secretary of Norwegian Trade and Investment Ministry, Mr. Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and Mr. Zhou Dalin, Commercial Counselor to the Kingdom of Norway congratulated on the opening of the CHTF 2018 in Norway. In particular, State Secretary Roy Angelvik said, in his remarks to the CHTF 2018 in Norway, "Today's event is another stepping-stone to the foundation of our bilateral relations since December, 2016” 

On behalf of the Shenzhen Municipality, Chen Biao encouraged businesses in Norway to come to the City of Innovation in China and explore opportunities in Shenzhen. Mr. Su Yanwei, Vice Director of China Hi-Tech Fair Organizing Committee Office briefed the forum with previous highlights and featured events in the CHTF 2018, calling for companies from both countries to join the Fair and embrace the rise of international cooperation in both quality and quantity. Mr. Pål T. Næss, Executive Vice President of Entrepreneurs and Startups, Innovation Norway, in his speech Enhance Strategic Synergy between Norway and China, Promote Common Development, made visionary predictions on bilateral cooperation between China and Norway. Ms. Hege Skryseth, CEO of Kongsberg Digital shared not only valuable experience in company growth but her forecast on future cooperation in high-tech sectors, in an intriguing speech named Innovation Shapes the Future. When it came to the panel discussion, business leaders from China and Norway had a candid and fascinating deliberation, elaborating on Combination of Technology and Finance Facilitates Innovation-Driven Development with individual perspectives and enlightening ideas. Mr. Wan Xiaoning, Chairman of Supervisory Board of Shenzhen Capital Group, Ms. Tang Qi, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen Small & Medium Enterprises Credit Financing Guarantee Group, Mr. Jiang Yipin, Vice President of Xinghan Smart Tech (China) Company, Mr. Lars Jacob Braarud, Vice President Listing of Oslo Stock Exchange, Ms. Hege Skryseth, CEO of Kongsberg Digital took part in the discussion. And Shenzhen Zhong Jian South Environment Company and Zhuhai Sunbird Yacht Manufacturing Company also took the opportunities and presented feature projects to entrepreneurs present that day.   

The event had the honorable presence of leaders in both public and private sectors, including Mr. Kjetil Lund, Vice Mayor for Business Development and Public Ownership in the City of Oslo, Mr. Pierre C Sames, Senior Vice President of DNV GL Group and Mr. Lars Dahle, CEO of Dignio. It was worth mentioning that Mr. Tom Jorgen Martinussen, Consul of Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Guangzhou as a determined facilitator to the bilateral cooperation, flew back to his home country and took part in the whole program of the CHTF 2018 in Norway. 

During his visit in Norway, Mr. Chen Biao had official meetings with Mr. Roy Angelvik, State Secretary of Norwegian Trade and Investment Ministry, Mr. Tore Johan Oesreboe, Vice Mayor of Alesund, and Ms Inga M.W Nyhamar, Director fo the MAF Section for East Asia and Oceania, exchanging views on bilateral cooperation for a stronger partnership in technology and trade.  

The CHTF 2018 in Sweden 

The Forum in Sweden started with welcoming remarks by Mr. Guohui Gao, former Deputy Secretary General of the CHTF Organizing Committee and Mr. Olle Zetterberg, CEO of Stockholm Business Region. Presentation on the CHTF 2018 was delivered by Mr. Li Chengxia, Deputy Director-General of China Hi-Tech Transfer Center, while Ms. Jenny Berthling, Head of ICT at Invest Stockholm briefed the Chinese delegation on the economy and investment environment of Sweden today. Biofibertech, Airimum, Zhuhai Singye Renewable captured the attendees with their fascinating cases and an intensive exchange of views and ideas engaged businesses from both sides. Innovation Sweden, Sweden China Trade Council, Sweden --China Start-up Forum and Sweden China Entrepreneur Association all took part in the engaging discussion.  

Also in his visit to Sweden, Mr. Chen Biao and the business delegation visited the Stockholm Smart City and certain key projects in urban development, for the first hand information in developing the smart cities. He also met with Mr. Stefan Hansson, Vice Mayor of Stockholm, who demonstrated strong interests in future cooperation with Shenzhen. Mr. Hansson was quoted as saying “with the rapid urbanization in the city and with its friendly environment to innovation, Stockholm has become an attractive location for growth companies and innovative organizations. Like Shenzhen, Stockholm is an international metropolitan with huge potential for bilateral cooperation.” He also proposed for direct flights between the two cities. Chen Biao thanked Hansson for the interests. He said, “Shenzhen is also on the rise at a remarkable speed. It is now attaching great importance to building a healthy economic structure and a well-balanced industrial layout. We have close cooperation with Karolinska Institute and value a development that is green and sustainable.” For stronger bilateral cooperation, he urged the Stockholm city to fully present the remarkable achievement made by Sweden in scientific innovation with one group of high-tech exhibitors from Stockholm in the CHTF 2018.  

BGI signed MOUss with The University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway on Researches on Polar Marine Microbe and on the Application of Biological Resources with the University of Iceland. All sides pledge to share experiences in the construction of a sample database for biological resources and jointly promote the development of research on polar and human resources between China and the Arctic Rim. Fan Guangyi, deputy director of the BGI Institute of Oceanography called the CHTF “a platform not only for business cooperation but more importantly, for future science." 

Based on detailed studies on the industrial strength in the three Nordic countries (i.e., Iceland, Norway and Sweden), the CHTF 2018 made meticulous pairing work and designed well targeted, one to one, face to face business match-making meetings, which secured in-depth exchanges in technologies and connected projects with the right interests. The CHTF 2018 in Iceland, in Norway and in Sweden increased international exposure of Chinese companies like BGI, Shenzhen Gas Group, Shenzhen Venture Capital Group, the CGC Group, Zhuhai Gree Group and Zhuhai By-health to a huge extend and sizable cooperation deals were made between the Chinese companies and their Nordic counterparts.  

Mrs. Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister for Tourism, Industry and Innovation addresses the CHTF 2018 in Iceland 

Mr. Jin Zhijian, Ambassador of China in Iceland, addresses the CHTF 2018 in Iceland 

Mr.Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government 

Keynote speech by Mr. Jón Ásbergsson, Managing Director from Promote Iceland  

Mr. Su Yanwei, Vice Director of China Hi-Tech Fair Organizing Committee Office, presents a briefing on CHTF 

The Chinese and Iceland representatives in the CHTF 2018 in Iceland 

The CHTF 2018 in Iceland  

The CHTF 2018 in Iceland  

Mr.Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government meets with Mrs. Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister for Tourism, Industry and Innovation 

Mr.Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government meets with Mr. Sturla Sigurjónsson, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland 

Mr. Roy Angelvik, State Secretary of Norwegian Trade and Investment Ministry addresses the CHTF2018 in Norway 

Mr. Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government addresses the CHTF 2018 in Norway 

Mr. Zhou Dalin, Commercial Counselor to the Kingdom of Norway addresses the CHTF 2018 in Norway 

Mr. Su Yanwei, Vice Director of China Hi-Tech Fair Organizing Committee Office briefes on the CHTF 2018 in Norway 

Keynote speech by Mr. Pål T. Næss, Executive Vice President of Entrepreneurs and Startups, Innovation Norway 

The CHTF 2018 in Norway 

The CHTF 2018 in Norway  

Panel discussion between Chinese and Norwegian entrepreneurs 

Group pictures of Chinese and Norwegian representatives in the CHTF 2018 in Norway  

Mr. Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government meets with Mr. Roy Angelvik, State Secretary of Norwegian Trade and Investment Ministry addresses the CHTF 2018 in Norway 

The CHTF 2018 in Sweden 

Mr. Gao Guohui, former DSG of the CHTF Organizing Committee addresses the CHTF 2018 in Sweden 

Mr. Olle Zetterberg, CEO of Stockholm Business Region addresses the CHTF 2018 in Sweden 

Presentation on the CHTF 2018 by Mr. Li Chengxia, Deputy Director-General of China 

Hi-Tech Transfer Center in the CHTF 2018 in Sweden 

Mr. Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government meets with Mr. Gui Congyou, Ambassador of China to Sweden. 

Mr. Chen Biao, Member of Leading Party Group of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government meets with Mr. Stefan Hansson, Vice Mayor of Stockholm, 

Signing of MOU between BGI and the University of Iceland 

Signing of MOU between BGI and the Arctic University of Norway 

Business match-making