The Summit’s theme is “China’s Next Phase of Modernization: Creating Scientific and Sustainable Solutions” and reflects the importance of understanding the business implications of current government efforts to accelerate institutional innovation, reform state-owned enterprises, promote environment-friendly industries and develop the rural economy.
“If the working assumption is that China will quadruple its GDP by 2020, then we need to examine today those policies that aim to improve energy efficiency, the social welfare system and economic productivity,” explained Lee Howell, the Forum’s Director for Asia. He added: “The “scientific concept of development” (kexue fazhanguan) and a “people-centred approach” (yiren weiben) are two emerging policy themes that are certain to reshape the future business environment in China.”
The Summit co-chairs are: from People’s Republic of China, Kong Dan, Vice-Chairman and President, CITIC Group; Zhou Zhongshu, President, China Minmetals Corporation; and Zhu Jimin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Shougang Group. From abroad: Peter Bakker, Chief Executive Officer, TNT, Netherlands; Michael R. Cannon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Solectron Corporation, USA; and William R. Rhodes, Senior Vice-Chairman, Citigroup, and Chairman, Citibank, USA.
Government participation from the People’s Republic of China includes: Cheng Siwei, Vice-Chairman, National People’s Congress, Zhang Guobao, Vice-Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission; Zhu Zhixin, Vice-Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission; Shen Guofang, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; Shao Ning, Vice-Chairman, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission; Wang Dongjin, Vice-Minister of Labour and Social; and Yin Chengjie, Vice-Minister of Agriculture.
Leading Chinese executives taking part include: Sun Wenjie, President, China State Construction Engineering Corporation; Jiang Jianqing, Chairman, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; Liu Xiaoguang, President and CEO, Beijing Capital Group; Sun Wenjie, President, China Construction Engineering; Edward Tian, President, China Netcom; Yang Mingsheng, President and CEO, Agricultural Bank of China; Zhou Yucheng, Chairman, China Worldbest Group; and Chen Feng, Chairman, China Hainan Airlines.
Prior to the opening of the China Business Summit 2005, the World Economic Forum will host several industry meetings focusing on aviation, travel and tourism; food and beverage; retail and consumer goods; heavy industries; information technology/telecommunications; and basic industries. The feedback and the results of these meetings will be fed into the 23 sessions of this year’s Summit. The Report on “Business and HIV/AIDS in Asia: Pushing Back the Tide” will also be made available for the first time at the Summit. Gao Qiang, Minister of Health of China, will also speak in a session on public health in the official programme on 10 September.
