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CEO summit: International cooperation crucial

By Dan Na (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-17 07:36

The second International CEO Roundtable of Chinese and Foreign Multinational Corporations is held Saturday and Sunday at the China World Hotel in Beijing.

As part of the ongoing effort to strengthen international cooperation and promote sustainable development in the face of global economic turmoil, the second International CEO Roundtable of Chinese and Foreign Multinational Corporations was held on Nov 15 and 16 at the China World Hotel in Beijing.

Co-sponsored by the China International Institute of Multinational Corporations and seven United Nations organizations, the roundtable focused on the current financial crisis and the state of China's economy. Participants from home and abroad called for closer cooperation in the face of difficult financial times around the world.

Du Qinglin, vice-chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and minister of the United Front Work Department of the Party, addresses the event.

The conference discussed China's economic stimulus package, one of the many major initiatives around the world designed to meet the financial crisis.

United Nations agencies that co-organized the two-day event included its Commission on Sustainable Development, Conference on Trade and Development, its Industrial Development Organization, the UN Environment Program, its Global Compact Office and the South Center.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Sha Zukang, under-secretary-general, both sent detailed messages to the conference.

Keynote speeches were given by Cheng Siwei, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress and chairman of the roundtable organizing committee, and Du Qinglin and Zheng Wantong, vice-chairmen of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Forums highlighting the event included those on the financial crisis, energy and environmental deterioration, corporate social responsibility, inflation, risks in real estate and harmonious development.

Lively discussions centered on battling recession, financial turbulence, environmental degradation, business credibility and influences of global climate change on economic development.

Other issues discussed included talks on domestic consumption, maintaining stability in overseas demand, increasing investment, promoting transformation of the economic structure, mitigating financial risks and enhancing stable development of capital markets.

Participants included a delegation of eight state senators from New York, 19 CEOs or vice-presidents of Fortune 500 companies, 20 CEOs from banks including HSBC and Standard Chartered, representatives of 11 foreign chambers of commerce in China, chairmen of stock exchanges and foundations, presidents of real estate companies, envoys and commercial counselors of foreign nations to China.

China's representation included leaders from the State Council ministries and research units, about 100 presidents and vice-presidents of the top 500 Chinese companies, and officials from some municipalities, provinces and Inner Mongolia.

(China Daily 11/17/2008 page12)