On October 25, 2023, to implement the guiding principles of the Central Government’s No.1 Document, actively lead and promote technological progress in the rubber industry, continuously optimize the industrial structure, address issues concerning the application of technological R&D achievements, further improve the development level and international competitiveness of China’s natural rubber industry, and achieve high-quality growth of the industry, the 2nd Joint Conference of the Green Rubber Development Research Institute & Rubber Innovative Technology Forum, hosted by Mainland Group, was held in Changsha, Hunan Province.

Speech by Mainland Group

Pan Xunhua, General Manager of Mainland Group, stated that, as the organizer of the event, the Group is honored to contribute to the development of China’s natural rubber industry. Mainland Group has long focused on business transformation and upgrading. Guided by the philosophy of developing upstream businesses while serving downstream industries, the Group has invested in and built natural rubber production bases and processing plants in Thailand, Malaysia, Africa, Laos, Myanmar and other regions, gradually developing into an influential enterprise centered on industrial operations and supplemented by trade.

Mainland Group is not only a participant of the Green Rubber Development Research Institute, but also a practitioner and beneficiary. The Group will stay true to its original aspiration, organically integrate commercial success with corporate social responsibility, and continue to pursue a broader and more sustainable path under its green rubber development strategy.

Report by Academician Zhang Liqun

Zhang Liqun, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of South China University of Technology, delivered a keynote speech titled “Advancing the Development of China’s Natural Rubber Industry through Scientific and Technological Innovation in Response to the Dual Carbon Strategy”.

His presentation covered five major topics: the challenges and opportunities under the Dual Carbon Strategy; the irreplaceability of natural rubber; the supporting role of technological innovation; globalization strategies and sound polices; and synthetic rubber as an important supplement.

During the conference, multiple institutions signed strategic cooperation agreements. Meanwhile, Academician Zhang Liqun, Zheng Wenrong, Executive Vice President of the China Natural Rubber Association, Xu Bing, Dean of the Green Rubber Development Research Institute, and Zeng Yi, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee, jointly unveiled the Shandong Branch of the Green Rubber Development Research Institute, which aims to promote integrated development across the rubber industry chain and jointly safeguard the secure supply of natural rubber as a strategic resource.

Zhou Weihua, Deputy General Manager of Mainland Group, pointed out that natural rubber is one of China’s important strategic resources and is of great significance to national economic development and national defense. The conference was held to actively promote technological progress in the rubber industry, continuously optimize the industrial structure, address issues concerning the application of technological R&D achievements, and further improve the development level and international competitiveness of China’s natural rubber industry.

Zhang Liang, Deputy General Manager of Mainland Group, pointed out that in recent years, with the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Africa cooperation has continued to deepen, with significant achievements in economic, trade and investment cooperation. As one of Africa’s important natural resources, natural rubber and its processing and value-added development have become a focus of market attention.

In recent years, Mainland Group has continuously invested in and developed the natural rubber industry in African countries and other regions. The Group believes that integrating scientific and technological achievements with industrial operations is essential to continuously developing green rubber production models. It has worked closely with universities such as Beijing University of Chemical Technology and, through a series of measures including offering competitive compensation, conducted systematic research into various aspects of natural rubber processing, production and application to put research achievements into practice.

Furthermore, the Group’s overseas investment and production operations have effectively promoted local employment and created numerous income-generating opportunities for surrounding villages, receiving a warm welcome from local governments and residents.

Sheng Weichen, Manager from the Shanghai Futures Exchange, delivered a market report titled “Futures Market Serving the High-Quality Development of the Rubber Industry”, using extensive data to explain the specific situation of the rubber industry in the futures market.

At the conference, invited speakers delivered insightful presentations from multiple perspectives and at multiple levels across the industry chain. More than 100 representatives attended the event, including leaders and experts from rubber research institutes, universities and leading manufacturers, as well as senior executives of downstream rubber-consuming enterprises such as Doublestar, Aeolus, Zhongce, Triangle, Linglong and Guizhou Tire.

The successful holding of the 2nd Joint Conference of the Green Rubber Development Research Institute & Rubber Innovative Technology Forum provides strong support for the green development, technological innovation and market expansion of the global rubber industry.

Going forward, Mainland Group will continue to play its role as a bridge and link to facilitate exchanges and cooperation between domestic and international rubber industries, and contribute to the development of the global green rubber industry.