Building Consensus and Embracing Collaboration: Opening of the SSE Global Investors Conference 2023

Building Consensus and Embracing Collaboration: Opening of the SSE Global Investors Conference 2023

On November 15, 2023, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) Global Investors Conference 2023 kicked off in Shanghai. Fang Xinghai, Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), Xie Dong, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, and Qiu Yong, Chairman of the SSE, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, which was moderated by SSE President Cai Jianchun. Under the theme of "Building a New Development Paradigm and Promoting High-Quality Development", this conference attracted representatives from over 150 well-known domestic and global investment institutions. They came together to explore market, investment, and growth opportunities in China, build consensus on long-term optimism for the Chinese market, and discuss the high-quality development of the capital market. This conference serves as another important measure by the SSE to implement the spirit of the Central Financial Work Conference in promoting high-quality development of the financial market.

China's high-quality economic development presents numerous opportunities for global investors. This year marks the 5th consecutive year that the SSE will host the Global Investors Conference. Over the course of the 2-day conference, there will be a total of 18 keynote speeches and roundtable discussions focusing on a wide range of topics. These topics include investment opportunities and prospects in China, the continuous facilitation of investment from overseas investors, green development, technological innovation, and the development of the stock, bond, fund, and derivative markets of the SSE. During this conference, both global investment institutions that have been deeply involved in China for years, as well as those newly entering the Chinese market, expressed their long-term optimism for the Chinese capital market and their support for China's efforts to promote the high-standard opening up of the financial market. These institutions believe that China's macroeconomic conditions are gradually improving, market valuations are relatively low, and the comprehensive implementation of the registration system reform will provide sustained confidence for investors. Furthermore, the coverage of the Global Investors Conference is expanding. The conference will see participation from institutions in Europe, America, and Asia-Pacific, as well as investors from markets in the Middle East, South America, and South Africa.

The SSE Global Investors Conference is a prominent event in the high-standard opening up of China's capital market and the development of Shanghai as a global financial center. Over the four years since its inception, the conference has played a pivotal role as a bridge in promoting communication, fostering open collaboration, facilitating roadshows, and showcasing achievements. The conference offers global investors an effective channel to experience China's economic development firsthand and explore investment opportunities in the market. In recent years, the SSE has consistently pursued reform, development, and stability, improving market functions, boosting market activity, and providing global investors with convenient conditions, a favorable ecosystem, and a wide range of investment choices. Firstly, SSE-listed companies have demonstrated their value for allocation, with a total operating revenue of RMB 38.4 trillion yuan and a net profit of RMB 3.5 trillion yuan in the first three quarters of 2023, maintaining generally stable business performance. Cash dividends and investment returns remain at high levels, and overall valuation is relatively low. Secondly, there is continuous innovation in investment products in the SSE market, with a rapid growth in the number and scale of equity-based ETF products. The index system is continuously enriched, and the STAR 50 ETF options were smoothly launched, providing a wider range of investment instruments for domestic and foreign investors. Thirdly, the investor structure in the SSE market continues to optimize, with an increasing proportion of shares held by insurance, social security, and enterprise annuity funds. The participation of global investors has steadily increased, and the group of long-term investors have steadily expanded. Fourthly, efforts to promote high-standard opening-up continue, with constant optimization of market connectivity mechanisms, enrichment of cross-border investment products, and ongoing improvement in the quality and efficiency of services for global investors. In 2023, the SSE has been sending many delegations to promote the market in various global locations, organizing visits for global investors to SSE companies, bond markets, etc., communicating policies and telling the story of China.

Moving forward, the SSE is committed to implementing the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, focusing on creating a convenient and friendly environment for cross-border investment and financing, better serving the development of Shanghai as an international financial center and supporting the national strategy of opening up to the world, building a world-class exchange, and contributing to high-quality economic development.