The signing ceremony for strategic cooperation between the Hongkou District People's Government and AEGON was held on September 7. Lu Ming, Deputy Chief of the CPC District Committee and District Governor, and Lard Friese, CEO and Chairman of the Executive and Management Committee of AEGON signed the contract on behalf of both parties. Guan Yetong, Standing Member of the CPC District Committee and Deputy District Governor, presided over the signing ceremony.
AEGON, founded in the first half of the 19th century, is headquartered in the Hague, Netherlands. As a comprehensive and diversified international financial services group with a long history of nearly 180 years, it is listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. For a long time, AEGON has regarded China as an important strategic market, and it has firmly established confidence in its development in China and continuously increased its strategic layout in China.
AEGON and Hongkou have a deep cooperative relationship. Its important joint venture, Tongfang Global Life Insurance Co., Ltd., was established in Shanghai in 2003, and it has been deeply involved in the Chinese insurance market for 20 years. Shanghai Branch Company has been rooted in Hongkou for many years, playing an important role and making positive contributions in supporting the development of the financial industry in Hongkou.
Lu Ming introduced the economic and social development of Hongkou. He stated that Hongkou has had outstanding geographical advantages, profound historical and cultural heritage, and it has industrial foundation advantages such as shipping, finance, and commerce. Especially, the regional financial industry has become a core pillar industry that drives economic growth, increases fiscal revenue, and optimizes and improves the economic structure in Hongkou. At present, Hongkou is making every effort to build a rule of law government, an honest government, a service government, and an enabling government, and accelerating the building of the North Bund of Shanghai and the Golden Triangle of the Huangpu River, which becomes an important showcase for the Chinese path to modernization. Hongkou will continue to optimize its business environment and allow enterprises to develop with peace of mind. I hope that both sides can take this signing as an opportunity to continuously strengthen communication and cooperation, and jointly make more contributions to the construction of Shanghai’s International Financial Center and the North Bund Global Asset Management Highland.
Lard Friese introduced the company's business development in Shanghai and its investment development plan in China. He was very honored to witness the extraordinary changes in Shanghai, and he was very optimistic about the development of the Chinese market. The next step was to accelerate the investment layout in Shanghai, uphold the concept of helping the people achieve a better life, and provide better asset management services, better elderly care, and healthy financial solutions. The forward-looking and efficient service awareness of the Hongkou District Government reassured enterprises. It was hoped to settle down as soon as possible and grow together with Hongkou.
The Hongkou District Government and AEGON have signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the goal of common development and long-term cooperation, which will further expand the areas of cooperation between the two sides, improve cooperation efficiency, accelerate the promotion of a higher level of opening-up, and assist in the high-quality development of local economy and society.
This event was hosted by the district financial bureau.