The inauguration ceremony of King & Wood Mallesons Surfing HUB in Lin-gang (KWM Surfing HUB) was successfully held on 8 December 2023. Zhao Yihuai, Member of the Party working committee and Deputy Director of Lin-gang Special Area Administration, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech.
Zhao Yihuai delivering a speech
In his speech, Zhao Yihuai congratulated the opening of KWM Surfing HUB, stating, “Choosing Lin-gang is choosing to face the future”. He emphasised that the rule of law establishes the optimal business environment, with opening up and the rule of law evolving in tandem. High-level opening up requires a high-quality rule of law. The opening of KWM Surfing HUB is an important initiative of the Lin-gang Special Area Administration to consolidate the rule of law foundation for the high-level opening up of Lin-gang Special Area. KWM Surfing HUB’s areas of expertise, covering finance, data, intellectual property, cross-border trade, and infrastructure construction, align closely with the development objectives of Lin-gang Special Area. He expressed anticipation for KWM’s new achievements in assisting the high-level opening up and high-quality development of Lin-gang Special Area.
As a “testing ground” for national reform and opening-up, Lin-gang Special Area focuses on key areas such as emerging finance, cross-border data, value-added telecommunications, new international trade, high-capacity shipping services, and cross-border medical care, advancing the higher-level opening-up of the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. KWM Surfing HUB, positioned as the KWM “Innovation Centre for Foreign Legal Services”, adheres to the principle of “openness and sharing”. It closely follows the national policy guidance, addresses market demands, and leverages international strengths to support the prioritised cutting-edge industries in the new area. As an important base for innovation and research on foreign-related legal services in intellectual property protection, open source ecology and cross-border trade in technology, KWM Surfing HUB integrates finance, data, intellectual property, cross-border trade and infrastructure development into the innovative growth of various industries, paving the way for scientific and technological innovations and cross-border business development in Lin-gang. It also provides insights on the optimisation of the business environment for both Chinese and foreign enterprises, facilitating their business development in China.
Present at the inauguration ceremony were Tang Peng, Director of the Administration for Market Supervision of Lin-gang Special Area; Shi Xiaolei, Level 3 Researcher of the Division of Institutional Innovation and Risk Management of Lin-gang Special Area Administration; Ye Chang, Chief Auditor of Lingang Group; Wang Chunhui, General Counsel of Lingang Group; Sun Canglong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Board of Directors of Shanghai Lin-gang Special Area Economic Development Co., Ltd.; Ren Xiang, Secretary General of the Legal Service Centre of Lin-gang Special Area; Richard Nie, lead partner of KWM East China offices; James Zeng, coordinating partner of the KWM Partners’ Council; Wang Lixin, managing partner of KWM GBA offices; Cecilia Lou, head of KWM Surfing HUB; more than 20 Chinese and foreign partners of the KWM Partners’ Council, along with dozens of partners from KWM offices. Li Pengfei, partner of KWM Surfing HUB, presided over the ceremony.
