On May 20, 2025, the China (Xinjiang)–ASEAN Economic and Trade Exchange Conference was grandly held in Urumqi. The event was co-hosted by the China East Asia Business Council and the Xinjiang Chamber of Commerce under the China Chamber of International Commerce. Over a hundred international guests from ASEAN countries, as well as Japan, South Korea, and other regions, gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on new opportunities in regional economic and trade cooperation, jointly contributing to Xinjiang’s high-level opening-up and high-quality economic development.
During the event, Ma Xingrui, Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, chaired a small closed-door meeting with 30 business leaders from ASEAN countries. Attendees engaged in candid and wide-ranging discussions on deepening trade cooperation, expanding investment opportunities, and improving the business environment. They reached broad consensus and expressed a strong willingness to strengthen alignment and collaboration with ASEAN and East Asian countries in terms of industry, markets, and regulations.
Ms. Luo Xixi, CEO of Singapore International Star, attended the conference as a corporate representative and remarked afterward:
“This event was truly rewarding. Secretary Ma Xingrui and the speeches from representatives of various countries were highly insightful, offering valuable perspectives for building platforms of cooperation and achieving mutual benefit between Chinese and international enterprises.”
In a media interview, Luo Xixi further shared her experience. She noted that the event, organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), was professional and efficient. Xinjiang demonstrated a high level of hospitality and a strong commitment to opening up to the world. This not only bolstered foreign businesses’ confidence in the region but also deepened understanding of Xinjiang’s strategic role as the core area of the Belt and Road Initiative.
“Xinjiang, as a vital gateway in western China, has seen steadily growing trade ties with ASEAN. We clearly feel that Xinjiang is not only a geographic ‘bridgehead’ but also a ‘testing ground’ for deepening regulatory alignment and promoting the free flow of production factors between China and ASEAN,” said Luo Xixi. She added that the trip gave Singapore International Star a deeper appreciation of Xinjiang’s strengths in industrial clusters and supply chain integration.
“As a Singapore-based company specializing in industrial park development, we are now rethinking and exploring new models of cross-border cold chain logistics that integrate ‘ports + industrial parks’,” Luo emphasized. “The in-depth exchanges and idea-sharing during this event have further strengthened our confidence in a globalization path driven by openness and cooperation for shared success.”
As a strong supporter of international business expansion, Singapore International Star focuses not only on the efficient implementation of corporate projects but also on building long-term and sustainable partnerships. Looking ahead, the company will continue to explore cooperation opportunities across Belt and Road countries and regions, actively participate in the development of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, and build more practical and efficient platforms for global market expansion—promoting mutual benefit, shared growth, and coordinated development.