Monaco and China reaffirm their commitment to strengthening economic ties
At the invitation of the Monaco Economic Board (MEB), over 70 leaders and decision-makers from the Principality gathered on Tuesday, 12 May, at the restaurant Castelroc for a “Business Destination' conference, which featured Mr Wang Dong, Minister for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of China in France and Monaco. Organised with the valuable support of H.E. Mrs Marie-Pascale Boisson, Monaco's Ambassador to China, this presentation offered a comprehensive overview of investment prospects and business development opportunities in this significant market, which the MEB intends to visit later this year.
Following a welcoming address by Guillaume Rose, Executive Director General of the MEB, H.E. Mrs Marie-Pascale Boisson highlighted the enduring strength of diplomatic relations and the substantial growth in Sino-Monegasque trade. Over the past five years, Monaco’s exports to China have increased by 72 per cent, while imports have risen by 57 per cent, positioning China as a key partner for the Principality.
To maintain this momentum, the Embassy of Monaco will organise a National Pavilion for the fourth time, offering a strategic platform for Monegasque companies at the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, scheduled from 5 to 10 November 2026. Additionally, the MEB is actively preparing, following an initiative by the Attractiveness Unit of the Prince’s Government, an economic mission to Hong Kong and Macao planned for the second quarter.
While the Chinese market presents many opportunities for growth, the journey demands perseverance given the country’s vast size. Several Monegasque companies have nonetheless taken the plunge with notable success, building genuine success stories such as Eurimpex, Forte Pharma, and Aton Green Energy. This prompted H.E. Mrs Marie-Pascale Boisson to address the decision-makers present as follows: “You are the true ambassadors of our national economy.”
Mr Wang Dong, Minister for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of China, then outlined China's key economic strengths, emphasising the country’s pivotal role in global growth. As the world’s second-largest consumer market, with over 400 million middle-income consumers, China also boasts the most comprehensive industrial system globally and remains the leading manufacturing nation. The discussion also highlighted innovation and future technologies, with sustained investment in R&D, a large pool of scientific talent, and the development of strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, biopharmaceuticals, green hydrogen, and smart robotics.
Ms Cheng Siyang, Second Secretary at the Embassy of China, outlined regional attractiveness schemes, particularly highlighting the tax advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the complementary strengths of major regional growth drivers such as the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, which alone accounts for more than 40 per cent of the national GDP, as well as the regions of Beijing and Shanghai.
At the end of the session, the event continued with a business cocktail, giving Monegasque decision-makers the chance to discuss their development projects on a one-to-one basis with the visiting delegation.
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Press contacts: Benoît Ulrich / Delphine Quilichini – presse@meb.mc
Photo credits: Sébastien Darrasse / MEB
