'New Drive Shared Future'

The seventh Swire China Conference, and first since 2018, was held at Taikoo Li Qiantan in Shanghai in October. With the theme "New Drive Shared Future", the event hosted a record number of 230 participants, including Swire staff, government leaders, academics, industry experts, and business partners. In his opening speech, John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited Chairman, Guy Bradley, outlined the Group's latest initiatives and investments in the Greater Bay Area and in Shanghai and reiterated Swire's confidence in the long-term prospects for these businesses, as it aligns its strategy with the central government's "dual circulation" strategy. The use of AI to provide a simultaneous translation of Guy's speech underscored Swire's commitment to embracing technological innovation.

Keynote speakers included Ms Zhu Yi, Vice Chairwoman of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, who addressed Shanghai's rapid transformation into an international consumer hub; Professor Huang Yiping, Deputy Dean of Peking University's National School of Development, who shared insights on the short-term challenges and long-term opportunities for China's economy; and Mr Gao Hongbing, Vice President, Alibaba Group, and Director of AliResearch, who interpreted the characteristics of China's digital economy and its evolution.

Conference host, Zhang Zhuoping, Chairman of John Swire & Sons (China) Limited, highlighted Swire's deep roots in China, and the close relationship between Swire's business success and China's economy. He said that the Group believes China is the engine driving global economic growth and will continue to demonstrate this confidence through its long-term investment strategy.