The Awards Ceremony of the 110th Panama-Pacific International Exposition (China Region) and the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Forum were successfully held in Sanya, Hainan, China

[Key Highlights] Under the theme “Carrying Forward a Century-Old Brand Legacy and Revitalizing the National Economy,” the highly anticipated Awards Ceremony of the 110th Panama-Pacific International Exposition (China Region) and the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs (Hainan) Forum was successfully held recently in Sanya, Hainan, China. Distinguished representatives from United Nations NGO organizations, overseas Chinese business communities, foreign embassies in China, relevant government departments, as well as award-winning enterprises of this edition gathered to celebrate the occasion.

   [Reported by Correspondent Yanzi / On-site in Sanya, Hainan]

 From January 6 to 9, 2026, the Awards Ceremony of the 110th Panama-Pacific International Exposition (China Region) and the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs (Hainan) Forum was grandly held in Sanya, Hainan. Under the theme “Carrying Forward a Century-Old Brand Legacy and Revitalizing the National Economy,” the event brought together heavyweight representatives from United Nations NGO organizations, overseas Chinese business communities, foreign embassies in China, relevant government departments, and award-winning enterprises. Participants not only witnessed the outstanding achievements of Chinese brands, but also engaged in in-depth exchanges on new drivers of brand economy and the hub role of the Hainan Free Trade Port, building consensus and jointly envisioning a new future of global cooperation.

 World Chinese Entrepreneurs Forum venue

   On the morning of January 7, at the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs (Hainan) Forum, Ren Yuling, Standing Committee Member of the 9th and 10th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and former Counselor of the State Council, delivered a keynote speech on “Brands Going Global, National Revitalization, Global Cooperation, and Co-Creation of a New Chapter.” He elaborated on the critical role of global Chinese entrepreneurs in promoting economic development and cultural integration, and highly praised the major strategic opportunities inherent in the closed-loop operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port. The forum reviewed and adopted the “World Chinese Entrepreneurs (Hainan) Declaration,” pointing out a shared direction for the future development of the Chinese business community.

    Ren Yuling delivering the keynote speech

Ubat, Chairman of the US-China Trade and Economic Promotion Association; Kong Ailing, Standing Committee Member of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Vice Chairperson of the Guangdong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese; Wu Junlin, Chairman of the World Hotel Alliance; Hao Jinling, Executive Chairperson of the World Chinese Association and President of the Southeast Asia Federation; Wu Ganghao, Founder of the World Trade United Foundation; and Gao Feng, Chairman of the Cambodia Entrepreneurs Association, among other Chinese business leaders, shared their insights. They unanimously agreed that the Hainan Free Trade Port, with its unique policy advantages and strategic location, is rapidly becoming a core platform for Chinese entrepreneurs to participate in international competition and promote national brands globally.

       Ubat, Chairman of the US-China Trade and Economic Promotion Association, delivering remarks

Kong Ailing delivering remarks

Forum moderated by Wang Jingzhong, Chairman of Jingzhong Think Tank, and Long Xinlin, Vice Chairperson of the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Forum Organizing Committee

Forum Dialogue: Brands Going Global, National Revitalization, Global Cooperation, Co-Creating a New Chapter

Yu Shunbiao, Vice Chairperson and China Region President of the Expo Organizing Committee, announcing the opening of the conference

  Xiang Yuzhang, former Chief Inspector of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China and Rotating Chairperson of the China Region of the Expo, delivered a warm welcome address on behalf of the Organizing Committee. He extended sincere greetings to global guests and entrepreneurs who traveled long distances, and congratulated all award recipients. He emphasized: “To witness so many outstanding Chinese brands receiving international recognition at this moment is of great and special significance. This is not only the highest honor for the enterprises themselves, but also a powerful testament to the growing global respect and trust for ‘Made in China’ and ‘Created in China.’”

Xiang Yuzhang delivering the welcome address

    The event demonstrated remarkable international influence and attracted widespread attention. Lin Li, Chairperson of the UN NGO–UCT International Cultural Development Center; Rajiv Abhay Jadhav, Vice Chairperson; Lisa Chen, Honorary Chairperson of the World Harmony Foundation; Alain Azoulay, Chief Representative; Making Yuan, Vice Chairperson of the UN NGO World Peace Federation; and Qin Heping, Director of the World Peace Office of the UN DESA Council of Nations, delivered speeches respectively, fully affirming the Expo’s century-long contributions to global cultural exchange, sustainable development, and peace initiatives.

Rajiv Abhay Jadhav delivering remarks

Alain Azoulay delivering remarks

Qin Heping delivering remarks

  Diplomatic envoys also attended the event. Oliver Chisapabano, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Malawi in China, extended warm congratulations and expressed hopes to further deepen economic and trade relations with China through the Hainan Free Trade Port. Washington, Minister of the Embassy of Liberia in China, and Rogge, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Sierra Leone in China, among others, also conveyed their willingness to leverage Hainan as an open platform to expand cooperation and share development opportunities.

Oliver Chisapabano delivering remarks

  Mary Su, former Mayor of Walnut, California and the first Chinese-American female mayor, as well as Chairperson of the Presidium of the Expo Organizing Committee, recalled with deep emotion the historical origins of the first Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915. She stated that witnessing so many outstanding Chinese brands gaining international recognition in Hainan was deeply inspiring, highlighting China’s indispensable vitality and quality in the global economy. She firmly believes that this historical recognition will now transform into stronger economic and trade ties, encouraging more brands to go global and achieve win-win outcomes.

Mary Su delivering remarks

   To recognize the Organizing Committee’s outstanding contributions in carrying forward the century-old spirit of the 1915 Expo and promoting international exchange, two honor-awarding ceremonies were grandly held at the awards ceremony. Representing the California government, Mary Su presented the “International Heritage and Contribution Award” to the Expo Organizing Committee. Meanwhile, UN-related NGO organizations conferred upon Chairman Yu Shunbiao the “Outstanding Contribution Award for Global Cultural and Economic Exchange.” These dual honors represent high recognition and authoritative affirmation of Chairman Yu Shunbiao and the Organizing Committee’s outstanding international credibility and global brand influence.

California government presenting the “International Heritage and Contribution Award”

UN NGO organizations presenting the Outstanding Contribution Award certificate to Chairman Yu Shunbiao

  At the awards ceremony, many leaders and experts delivered speeches in succession. Dai Gongxing, former Vice Director of the Council of the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and Co-Chairperson of the China Region of the Expo as well as jury member, focused on the internationalization of local brands. He stated that the Expo has opened an important pathway for high-quality Chinese agricultural and rural specialty products to enter the global market, and expressed hope that more “Chinese rural signature brands” would integrate into the world market through this international platform.

Dai Gongxing delivering remarks

  Cheng Lu, former Vice Chairperson of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, emphasized the value of entrepreneurial spirit in the new era and the global Chinese business network. He called on private entrepreneurs to stay committed to the real economy and innovation, and to build trustworthy national brands with a spirit of craftsmanship and excellence.

Cheng Lu delivering remarks

   Lu Zhiyuan, former Vice Director of the Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial People’s Congress and President of the Hainan Provincial Charity Federation, highlighted the event’s positive role in enhancing Hainan’s international influence and driving the upgrading of the Free Trade Port’s modern service industry. He noted that the 110th Expo and the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Forum not only provided an important window to showcase the achievements of the Free Trade Port, but also attracted global Chinese entrepreneurs’ attention and resources, promoting deeper exchanges and cooperation between Hainan and international markets.

Lu Zhiyuan delivering remarks

   Leng Mingquan, President of the Hainan Provincial Enterprise Federation and Entrepreneurs Association and Lifetime Jury Member of the China Region Organizing Committee, elaborated from a host perspective on the Expo’s important role in connecting Hainan’s local industries with global brand resources.

Leng Mingquan delivering remarks

  This edition of the Expo upheld a rigorous and prudent evaluation tradition. Awards covered key sectors including food and beverages, textiles and apparel, culture and arts, agricultural products, modern services, high technology, and intangible cultural heritage. The evaluation process lasted one year, and after strict screening, 18 award-winning enterprises were selected from hundreds of applications.

   The Special Grand Gold Awards were awarded to: “Cangzhou Golden Lion International Hotel” submitted by Cangzhou Xinhe Golden Lion International Hotel Co., Ltd.; “Hualikuqi Liquor” submitted by Sichuan Yingyi Huifu E-commerce Co., Ltd.; and “Xinhe Shopping Mall” submitted by Cangzhou Xinhe Commerce Group Co., Ltd.

Cangzhou Golden Lion International Hotel receiving the Special Grand Gold Award for Services

   Gold Award-winning products include: “Jiulonggui Brand Series Camellia Oil” by Fangchenggang Aojia Grain & Oil Industry Co., Ltd.; “Changtai Yichanghao Premium Tea” by Yunnan Changtai Tea Group; “Beiyue Xiyun (Fruit Jam Honey Aroma Liquor)” by Baoding Xiyun Distillery Co., Ltd.; “Lanling (Cangshan) Garlic” by Lanling Agricultural Development Group Co., Ltd.; “Zhangjiajie Meicha – Wuling Frost” by Zhangjiajie Da’ai Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.; “Huaxia Ning Liquor” by Henan Guningyi Distillery Co., Ltd.; and “Zhougong Kangjiujiu Medicinal Liquor” by Zhougong Wine Trade (Fuqing) Co., Ltd.

Jiulonggui Brand Series Camellia Oil receiving the Gold Award

Changtai Yichanghao Premium Tea receiving the Gold Award

The Technology Gold Award was presented to the “Digital Centralized Controller (DCC)” by Shenzhen Yutai Technology Co., Ltd. and “Lily Bud Tea” by Yixing Baishihaohe Food Co., Ltd.

   The Bronze Award was granted to “Xuhuang – Premium Bottle Series” submitted by Shandong Xuhuang Trading Co., Ltd.

Honorary Awards were presented to: “Chinese Giant Salamander Small-Molecule Protein Peptide Solid Beverage” by Shenzhen Jiuran Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; Calligraphy Artwork “Fu” by Li Guodong; “Tianhai Wyndham Hotel” by Hubei Tianhai Petroleum Group Hotel Investment Co., Ltd.; and “Fugu Sea Red Fruit” by Xi’an Fugu Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, Su Zhuangyuan Hairy Crab received a Finalist Award. The designated products of this conference were Tianchao Shangpin 15-Year Anniversary Commemorative Liquor and Agarwood Red Infused Liquor.

It is worth noting that the modern service industry performed particularly impressively in this evaluation. Hebei Cangzhou Golden Lion International Hotel and Xinhe Shopping Mall both won the highest honor, the “Special Grand Gold Award,” for their outstanding achievements in service systems, customer experience, and management innovation. This not only reflects high recognition of the two enterprises, but also marks a new milestone for China’s modern service industry in terms of standardization, quality, and international recognition.

   At the awards banquet, the conference also presented the “World Outstanding Chinese Medal” and the “World Star Entrepreneur Medal” to honor Chinese business leaders and entrepreneurs who have made outstanding contributions to the global economy and culture, further strengthening unity within the Chinese business community.

              Red Carpet Ceremony of the Expo Presidium

 Representatives of past award-winning enterprises shared their experiences of growth through the Expo platform. During the event, multiple institutions and enterprises seized opportunities to reach cooperation intentions and sign agreements on-site.

  The successful hosting of this grand event represents the continued inheritance of the century-old Expo spirit in the new era, and vividly demonstrates the strong international appeal of the Hainan Free Trade Port after its closed-loop operation. It not only provides an authoritative platform for outstanding Chinese brands to gain international recognition, but also builds a bridge of mutually beneficial cooperation by forging global consensus through the “World Chinese Entrepreneurs (Hainan) Declaration.” Although the event has concluded, a new journey has begun, with all parties looking forward to seizing this opportunity to jointly write a new chapter of open cooperation and win-win development.

Group photo of selected guests at the 110th Expo Awards Ceremony

Image and text source: (Provided by the Organizing Committee of this edition)