Dalian Ready to Host 'Summer Davos'

Dalian, a costal city of Northeast China's Liaoning Province, is preparing to host the third summer summit of the World Economic Forum. Now hosting the annual international summit for the second time, Dalian is looking forward to seizing more opportunities to open up and boost local companies through the global forum. Wang Ling has more.

Reporter:
The small Swiss town of Davos is famous for hosting the World Economic Forum, the WEF's annual winter summit.Now China's costal city of Dalian is also drawing global attention as host of the WEF's third annual summer meeting, also known as "Summer Davos."

Jeremy Jurgens, senior director of WEF's Center for Global Growth Companies, says the theme of the summit this year is "Re-launching the Economy."

"There has been a significant economic and financial turmoil over the past year. And a lot of business leaders are looking to see where will be the next growth opportunities. And we hope by bringing attention to entrepreneurs' spirit, innovation and positive approach, we can actually help rekindle the growth globally."

The WEF held its first summer meeting in Dalian in 2007. This is the second time the city will host the meeting after it was held in China's Tianjin Municipality in 2008.

Dai Yuelin, vice mayor of Dalian, says hosting the summer summit has helped the city boost its economic development.

"First, Summer Davos has rapidly increased Dalian's popularity and world influence. Second, more and more international institutions and companies started to invest in Dalian after the first summit, for example Citibank and Britain-based BT Technology Company have set up branches here. Third, the summit has driven us to better protect the city's environment and improve its facilities."

Unlike Winter Davos, the summer meeting is focused on emerging businesses and nations.The WEF so far has about 200 members in its Community of Global Growth Companies, a group of rapidly growing companies that are redefining the global economy. Nearly a quarter of the members are from China.

The vice mayor of Dalian says Summer Davos serves as a platform for local growing enterprises to communicate with world-leading companies.

Meanwhile, Han Qiang, deputy director-general of the Dalian Coordination Office for Summer Davos says Dalian is preparing to host a green summit this year.

"Dalian is an environmentally friendly city. We have increased our efforts to host a green summit. For example most of the cars that will transport participants are hybrid automobiles. Also the air conditioning system at the forum's venue will use seawater to control indoor temperatures."

He says more than 1,400 participants, including government officials, business leaders and scientists from more than 80 countries, are expected to attend the forum from Sept. 10 to 12.

Wang Ling CRI News