Deals worth over 61 billion yuan (about 8.59 billion U.S. dollars) covering 23 major projects were signed at the Invest Beijing Conference in Beijing's Zhongguancun -- "China's Silicon Valley".
As part of the ongoing 2024 Zhongguancun Forum, which runs from April 25 to 29, the event is aimed at showcasing the favorable investment environment and flourishing development opportunities in Beijing.
A total of 231 investment projects covering advanced and emerging industries, including information technology, intelligent manufacturing, integrated circuits, artificial intelligence (AI) and green energy, were announced at the conference, with a total value of around 90.22 billion yuan (roughly 12.71 billion U.S. dollars).
In addition, for the first time, the conference set up a corporate exhibition and investment consultation session. Over 100 companies from key industries in Beijing, including information technology and biopharmaceuticals, conducted on-site investment consultations and negotiations.
"A separate negotiation and docking area is available on-site, mainly to showcase investment environment and development opportunities in Beijing to entrepreneurs. We aim to attract more high-quality projects to land in Beijing, so as to accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces," explained Wang Rui, deputy director of the Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center. As a widely recognized rising sci-tech innovation hub, Beijing boasts around 100 colleges and universities and over 1,000 scientific research institutes. Meanwhile, it is also home to some 28,200 high-tech enterprises, with the number of unicorn companies hitting 114 by the end of last year.
Deals worth over 61 bln yuan inked at Invest Beijing Conference
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Budapest on Wednesday for a state visit to Hungary at the invitation of Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Upon entering Hungarian airspace, the Chinese president's plane was escorted by two fighter jets sent by the Hungarian Air Force.
After landing at the Budapest Airport, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were welcomed by Orban and his wife Aniko Levai, as well as senior Hungarian government officials including Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
After stepping out of the plane, Xi and Peng exchanged handshakes and greetings with Orban and Levai.
President Xi and his wife then received a traditional Hungarian welcome, with children offering bread and salt to distinguished guests in accordance with local culture and performing folk dance Czardas. They also received flowers from bilingual school students, who greeted them by saying "Welcome to Hungary" in Chinese.
In a written speech delivered upon the arrival, Xi said he is delighted to pay a state visit to the beautiful country of Hungary at the gracious invitation of Sulyok and Orban.
Noting that China and Hungary are good friends and partners that share mutual trust, Xi said that in recent years the two sides have seen frequent high-level exchanges, deepening mutual trust, fruitful outcomes in Belt and Road cooperation, vibrant people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and close coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs.
Xi said the two countries have set a fine example of building a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Hungary, bringing an important opportunity for the growth of bilateral relations, he said.
Xi said he looks forward to meeting with Sulyok, Orban and other Hungarian leaders, and that they will jointly outline a new blueprint for cooperation and development, with a view to steering the China-Hungary relationship forward in big strides and taking it to a higher level.
"I believe that no matter how the international landscape evolves, China and Hungary will always view and approach the bilateral relationship from a broad perspective and a long-term view," he said.
"Through vigorous and determined endeavors, we will work together toward the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and make our due contribution to world peace, stability, development and prosperity," he added.
"I am confident that, with the two sides' concerted efforts, this visit will be a complete success and usher in an even brighter future of China-Hungary relationship," he said.
Xi is also accompanied on the visit by Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister.
Xi was also greeted by Chinese ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao at the airport.
On the way from the airport to the hotel, hundreds of people waving national flags of the two countries lined the streets and cheered as Xi's motorcade passed by.
Hungary is the last leg of Xi's current three-nation Europe tour, which has previously taken him to France and Serbia.
Xi arrives in Budapest for state visit to Hungary
Xi arrives in Budapest for state visit to Hungary
