2024.9.13Yantai

Honorable Secretary Jiang Cheng, Vice Governor Zhou Liwei, General Manager Zhao Dong, Deputy Director Huang Yu, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

Good morning everyone! On behalf of China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF), I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the leaders, entrepreneurs and guests attending the 2024 China International Petrochemical Congress! To the Shandong Provincial Government and Yantai Municipal Government, who have given care and support to this conference, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks!

This year, the global economic growth momentum is weak, geopolitical conflicts, international trade friction and other issues occur frequently, the external environment tends to be complex and severe and uncertain. The global petrochemical industry is struggling to move forward, China is still an important engine for the development of the global petrochemical industry. 1 to July, the petrochemical industry operating income of enterprises above designated size reached 9.35 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.3% year-on-year, realizing a profit of 498.23 billion yuan, the total import and export trade of 552.87 billion U.S. dollars. Among them, the chemical operating income of 5.5 trillion yuan, an increase of 6.1%, profit of 251.5 billion yuan, an increase of 6.5%. The industry-wide economic operation is steady and improving, highlighting the resilience of China's petrochemical industry for sustainable growth and the potential and advantages of the mega market.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that grasping innovation is grasping development, and seeking innovation is seeking the future. At present, the change of the world, the change of the times, and the change of history are unfolding in an unprecedented way, and the global petrochemical industry is facing economic downward pressure, as well as multiple contradictions and challenges, such as energy supply preservation and low-carbon transformation, geopolitical conflicts and supply chain stability, market-oriented application of new technologies and unilateralism. The petrochemical industry must find a way out in innovation. Only by daring to innovate and change, forging brand-new competitiveness and cultivating new kinetic energy and new advantages can it break through the predicament of growth and development.

The picture shows the scene of the plenary session of the 2024 China International Petrochemical Congress. (Photo by Zhang Yu)

First, adhere to innovation-driven, development of new quality productivity. Focusing on new energy, new chemical materials, high-end fine chemicals and other cutting-edge fields, continuous research and development of new technologies, the development and growth of new industries, in new fields, new tracks to stand out. We should accelerate the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries with new technologies and equipment, eliminate backward production capacity and enhance competitiveness. Promote collaborative innovation among upstream and downstream enterprises to enhance the resilience of the industrial chain and supply chain.

Secondly, the development of circular economy, accelerate the green low-carbon transformation. We should firmly establish the development concept of “green mountains are golden mountains”, focus on promoting carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, growth and other issues, promote infrastructure sharing, comprehensive utilization of by-products, energy gradient utilization, symbiotic coupling of industrial chain, near-zero discharge of pollutants, accelerate the establishment of a perfect industry carbon emission standard system and petrochemical products carbon footprint management system. footprint management system for petrochemical products.

Third, deepen the digital and intellectual empowerment, and cultivate new momentum for development. We will take intelligent and digital transformation as the starting point, promote the construction of smart factories, accelerate the application of new-generation information technology such as 5G, big data and artificial intelligence in the production process, speed up the digital transformation of process equipment, safety and environmental protection, and explore the flexible production mode of chemical products with multiple varieties and small batch sizes, so as to adapt to customized and differentiated demands.

Fourth, adhere to the mutual benefit and win-win situation, to create a global petrochemical “ecosystem”. China needs the world, the world needs China, and the development of the world petrochemical industry also needs China. We must work together to maintain and develop the industrial chain and value chain of the global petrochemical market, and actively engage in dialogues and exchanges on major issues such as climate change, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and sustainable development, so as to discuss practical solutions.

Ladies and gentlemen!

The future of China cannot be separated from the world, and the world cannot be separated from China. Let's exchange and learn from each other, work hand in hand, cooperate in good faith, overcome the difficulties together, and make new and greater contributions to the sustainable development of the global petrochemical industry!

Finally, I wish this conference a complete success!

Thank you all!