The Sino-Singaporean Guangzhou Knowledge City (SSGKC), represents a landmark project in terms of Sino-Singapore cooperation, and the Belt and Road initiative. This Guangzhou venue hosted the 5th Sino-Singapore Knowledge Forum on Aug. 22. This year's theme was "Benefiting mutually and inclusive growth".

Huang Ningsheng, the vice governor of Guangdong delivered a speech at the forum, saying that, in recent years the SSGKC has taken the lead on information and economic development in the Pearl River Delta region, and even the country as a whole. He hopes that Guangdong will work more with Singapore on the Belt and Road initiative, seeing mutual growth, scientific & technological innovation and the development of new intellectual properties.

Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and 2nd Minister for Defence, Republic of Singapore, gave an opening address at the opening ceremony.

Experts and scholars from both China and Singapore discussed how to achieve this inclusive growth and mutual development under the Belt and Road Initiative as well as how to achieve wider international cooperation.

Speakers at the first panel discussion of the 5th Sino-Singapore Knowledge Forum.

Mr Lee Yi Shyan, the Chairman of Business China (a Singaporean networking platform), has 20 years of experience engaging government and business leaders across some 60 Chinese cities, spearheading Singapore's collaboration with China. He said that the soft skills introduced to China from Singapore concerning social management, and industrial policy have proven quite useful for Chinese companies.

According to Daren Tang Heng Shim, the Chief Executive of Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, innovation is extremely important for economic growth and transformation. connectivity is also crucial for Singapore and China under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Speakers at the second panel discussion of the 5th Sino-Singapore Knowledge Forum

Nina Yang, the Chief Executive Officer for the Sustainable Urban Development Department of Ascendas-Singbridge pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative brings wide-reaching collaboration opportunities for both sides including financial institutions, governments and companies.

As an important stop on the Maritime Silk Road, Singapore is experienced in helping its nearby countries like India and Vietnam to establish industrial parks and economic development zones. Such experience can benefit China, said Yang Mu, the Executive Dean for Institute of Public Policy of South China University of Technology.

Great importance was also attached to intellectual property as a bridge between scientific achievement and real productivity.

The, SSGKC has taken the protection and application of intellectual property as its core mission. In the past eight months, the place has become home to the Guangzhou intellectual property arbitration court, the Patent Examination Cooperation Center of the Patent Office, the State Intellectual Property Office of Guangdong as well as several intellectual property trade institutions.

Ref：GDD.gov.cn

Edit: CEST