CEO of Asia's leading paint Nipsea Group says to increase investment in China

Nipsea Group, one of the largest paint material manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region, will continue to invest in China as it is a place that is full of innovation and open to ideas, said the company's CEO Wee Siew Kim when participating in the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. Running from Tuesday to Sunday, the 7th CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions, and international organizations in its country exhibition and business exhibition.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Wee said Nipsea Group has benefited from China over the past three decades and will continue to invest in China.

"China for us is more than a market. We have grown over the past thirty years in China, and we've benefited a lot from the dynamism that is China today. So, now we know that in recent times there has been concerns of economy that is slowing down. But we see very differently. We see as a continuing, unwavering commitment to China, we are continuing to invest," he said.

Wee Siew Kim said the company is building a new research and development center in Shanghai and has chosen to base their talent base and capabilities in China as the country offers an open market.

"If you look at just the recent months, we have broken ground in a new research and development center in Shanghai, where we're going to put over in forty five thousand square meters, a brand new research and development center. So, all these are new investments, showing our continuing investment into China. And this investment is part of the new productive forces. China is a place full of innovation and it's a place very open to ideas, especially in the paint site. We feel China is a very open market. Collaboration is always there, so we anchor our talent base here, anchor capabilities here. We believe that we can actually grow with China, so we continue to invest here and commit here," he added.

This year marks the Nipsea Group's first participation in CIIE since the event's inauguration in 2018, as a newcomer. The Singapore-based company as a newcomer will use this opportunity to meet with collaborators, partners and customers in China and showcase its new products, according to Wee.

"We're so honored that CIIE has provided us this excellent platform and just been here you can feel the vibrancy of the economy and the industry. And this platform allows us a good outreach to our collaborators, partners and customers in China. Now with the new material, special section of the CIIE, it gave us then the extra reason to showcase all the sustainability, low carbon innovations that we've done in recent years, bring together our international resources, working with Chinese talent and intellectual base and really creating a global product," he said.

CEO of Asia's leading paint Nipsea Group says to increase investment in China

A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.

The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.

"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.

The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.

"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.

"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.

Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.

This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.

Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit