The 30th Anniversary Conference and Annual Meeting of the China National Food and Packaging Machinery Association, the 8th Asia Food Equipment Forum, and the Annual Meeting of the Food Machinery Branch of the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology were grandly held in Zhengzhou from November 28 to 30. During the event, the China National Food and Packaging Machinery Association held its 7th Member Representative Conference and elected a new Council.

More than 500 representatives from national food production enterprises, food equipment manufacturing companies, universities, research institutes, and the media attended the conference actively, carrying the trust of their industries and organizations, and diligently fulfilling their duties as representatives. The event was attended by invited leaders from ministries and government agencies, as well as industry organizations, including Luo Junjie, Deputy Director of the Equipment Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Zhu Sendi, Director of the National Intelligent Manufacturing Expert Advisory Committee; Song Xiaogang, Executive Vice President of the China Machinery Industry Federation; Wang Bo, Chairman of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Machinery and President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences; Xu Ningning, Executive Director of the China-ASEAN Business Council; Guo Yong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology; Song Lianwu, Director of the Equipment Division of the Henan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology; Fang Shirong, President of the Korea Packaging Import and Export Association; and Fang Shaoming, Vice President of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry.

The conference solemnly opened amidst the stirring strains of the national anthem. First, Chu Yufeng, Chairman of the China Food and Packaging Machinery Industry Association, delivered the opening speech, summarizing the 30-year journey of China's food equipment industry, analyzing the current state of the sector, and outlining the future development direction and goals of the industry. In his speech, Chu Yufeng emphasized that this conference is held against the important backdrop of thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The Association aims to advance the industry into a stage of comprehensive high-quality development, align with international trends in the food and packaging machinery sector, actively promote industrial restructuring, adapt to the new normal of economic development, and foster harmonious and coordinated growth of China's food equipment industry. Member enterprises are encouraged to work together, forge strong alliances, stay true to their original mission, and strive forward with determination. The China Food and Packaging Machinery Industry Association looks forward to further strengthening exchanges and cooperation with all parties, cultivating a strong industry network, forming a community of shared destiny, and making vigorous efforts to achieve the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Opening Remarks by Chu Yufeng, Chairman of the China Food and Packaging Machinery Industry Association

Currently, the food manufacturing industry is increasingly shifting towards informatization, intelligence, flexibility, and automation. As a fundamental support for the food industry, food equipment has promoted the realization of smart factories in the food sector from the very beginning through the integrated development of technology and equipment. Luo Junjie, Deputy Director of the Equipment Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, delivered a keynote speech titled "Using Intelligent Manufacturing as a Starting Point to Accelerate the High-Quality Development of the Food Equipment Industry," presenting a thematic report on the intelligent development of China's food and equipment industries. Zhu Sendi, Director of the National Expert Advisory Committee on Intelligent Manufacturing, gave a speech titled "Process Innovation in the Digital Transformation of Manufacturing," providing an in-depth analysis and interpretation of process innovations in digital transformation. In addition, Professor Yang Hailin from Jiangnan University, Zhang Weize from Guangzhou Zerun Food Research Institute, and Zhao Bingkun, Procurement Director of Luzhou Laojiao Co., Ltd., shared thematic presentations on topics such as the integration of technology and equipment, future trends in beverage equipment development, and the Industrial 4.0 outlook for liquor bottling lines.

Luo Junjie, Deputy Director of the Equipment Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, delivered the keynote report

At the Central Kitchen Supply Chain Management Forum (CSF) held on the afternoon of the 30th, guests including Researcher Zhang Hong from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Liu Donghong, Dean of the Food Research Institute at Zhejiang University, Wang Juntie, Chairman and General Manager of Tianjin Shangruan Information System Development Co., Ltd., Professor Ma Haile, Dean of the Institute of Food Physical Processing at Jiangsu University, Li Cheng, Chairman of Beijing Yancheng Oriental Technology Group Co., Ltd., and Lai Xiarong, General Manager of Nanjing Leying Commercial Kitchen Equipment Co., Ltd., delivered keynote speeches on the topics "Intelligent Manufacturing Technology and Equipment for Central Kitchens," "Application of Smart and Active Packaging Technology in Ensuring Food Safety in Central Kitchen Supply Chains," "Information Technology Promoting the Modernization of the Catering Supply Chain," and "Physical Processing Technology and Equipment for Central Kitchen Foods." The eight speakers shared and discussed themes around the deep integration of new-generation information technology with the central kitchen industry, the profound industrial transformations it is driving, and how this is creating new production methods, industry structures, business models, and economic growth points. They also explored how to participate in the ecological integration of the central kitchen supply chain amid broader environmental changes.

In order to better summarize the experiences and achievements of China's food equipment industry over the past thirty years, to recognize excellence, to serve as a model and guide, and to vigorously promote the exemplary organizations and outstanding individuals that have emerged during the growth and development of China's food equipment industry, this conference also honored the units and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry.