HUB Conference 2026 spotlights Hongqiao's role in helping businesses go global

Under the theme "A World-Class Hub for Opening-Up: Hongqiao as a Strategic Pivot for Businesses Going Global," the 2026 Hongqiao HUB Conference on Nov 6 explored how the Hongqiao International Opening-up Hub can connect Yangtze River Delta businesses with global markets amid a shifting global landscape.

The conference was held in Shanghai during the ninth China International Import Expo. The hub spans parts of Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu provinces in the Yangtze River Delta region, with Shanghai's Hongqiao International Central Business District at its core.

It brought together government representatives, international experts, and business leaders to discuss new opportunities and challenges in corporate globalization.

Jiang Xiaojuan, a professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the AI era is ushering in "native globalization", with products, technologies, and services increasingly designed for global markets from the outset.

Ian Goldin, a professor at the University of Oxford and former vice-president of the World Bank, said globalization is continuing to expand, and that Hongqiao is well positioned to connect international ideas with Chinese products and services, linking domestic businesses with the wider world.

Gordon Naylor, CEO and managing director of biotech company CSL, shared the company's shift from bringing products into China to bringing global innovation into China and helping Chinese innovation reach international markets.

He said Hongqiao's combination of transport connectivity, international exchange, corporate headquarters, business services, and technological innovation has made it a potential gateway for cooperation between Chinese and international companies.

"Hongqiao's development vision is closely aligned with CSL's," said Naylor.

The conference also launched the Private Enterprise Globalization Platform. The platform will help businesses address overseas risks, protect their interests, and strengthen their international operations.

During the conference, Hongqiao International Central Business District signed a cooperation agreement with Suzhou in Jiangsu province and Jiaxing in Zhejiang province to strengthen regional coordination.