On the morning of October 21, Sibos 2024, the annual conference organized by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), opened at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
Yin stated that hosting Sibos 2024, a top-tier global financial event, in Beijing highlights both the dynamic high-quality development of Beijing and China, and the country’s firm commitment to opening up its financial sector. This event is poised to promote communication and exchanges among global financial institutions, contributing Beijing’s strengths to international financial cooperation. As the national financial management center, Beijing boasts abundant financial resources and hosts national financial regulators, headquarters of financial institutions, and international financial organizations. The financial sector has served as the city’s most important pillar industry.
Yin elaborated on the five key characteristics of Chinese modernization from various perspectives, including human history, people-to-people relationship, the relationship between humanity and nature, the connection between material and cultural-ethical advancement, and China’s role in the world. He emphasized that Chinese modernization draws on the successful experience of China’s reform and opening-up. It contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context. Chinese modernization is the modernization of a huge population. With sustained economic growth, China can offer the world a broad market and substantial development momentum. Chinese modernization pursues common prosperity for all. Since 2012, we have concentrated our efforts on poverty alleviation, lifting nearly 100 million people out of poverty, eliminating absolute poverty and creating a global miracle in poverty reduction. Chinese modernization aims to foster harmony between humanity and nature. Beijing has made significant strides in air pollution control, leading to continuous improvements in air quality, which was hailed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Chinese modernization pursues both material and cultural-ethical advancement. We have always emphasized cultural-ethical advancement in urban development, and the success of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games has greatly improved social etiquette. Chinese modernization upholds peaceful development. Beijing Central Axis, with its symmetrical beauty and the concept of harmonious coexistence, exemplifies “a Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital”, conveying values of balance, harmony, and mutual benefit to the world.
Beijing’s high-quality development cannot be achieved without the support and participation of friends from all sectors, both at home and abroad, said Yin. He encouraged people to pursue innovation and start businesses in Beijing for common development. The city will steadily expand institutional openness in terms of rules and standards, ensure national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, and provide comprehensive services covering business establishment and license applications. The aim is to make Beijing the preferred destination for all foreign investments and businesses entering China.
Graeme Munro, Chair of the SWIFT Board of Directors, and Samantha Emery, Deputy Chair of the SWIFT Board of Directors, moderated the event and delivered welcome speeches. Lu Lei, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, also addressed the event. Javier Pérez-Tasso, CEO of SWIFT, and Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, shared their insights during discussions.
Sun Shuo, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Zeng Jin, Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Government were also present.
(Written by Yang Qi)
