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APEC CEO Summit Begins with a Focus on China
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| THU, OCT 18, 2001 |
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The APEC CEO summit got under way in Shanghai today . About 500 delegates, including top executives from leading companies in the region, gathered to discuss the world's economic outlook and explore business opportunities. As Liu Changying reports, the first day of the forum focused on China, with its fast growing GDP, rare in today's global economic climate.
Zeng Peiyan, Minister of the State Development Planning Commission, welcomed business circles to invest in and seek co-operation with China, especially at a time when the country is soon to join WTO.
He said: "We will continue to improve the investment environment and ensure investors' rights. We will actively absorb overseas investment in hi-tech companies and in reforming state-owned enterprises as well as infrastructure building."
Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua spoke about China's strategy for developing science and technology in the 21 century. The Governor of southwest China's Sichuan province outlined the nation's strategy to develop Western China, a program to boost domestic demand in the area, which is less developed but expected to serve as a new impetus for growth.
Macao, China's another special administrative region, got the chance to brief the world's top-level businesses about its own development. And although the first day of the forum almost completely focused on China, delegates had no complaints.
Thomas Donohue, President of US Chamber of Commerce said: "I think it's excellent. Not only because China is the host country for this year, but China is a growing economy. China is a huge market and the economy as a whole for APEC itself is declining except China."
Over the next two days, a number of forums will be held to focus on issues such as the New Economy and Globalization. The meeting also serves as a good chance for the business people to mingle and set up networks.
"These executives aren't just talking among themselves. They're also hearing the views of more than half a dozen world leaders as they look at business trends and responsibilities emerging in an increasingly globalized world.
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