Fortune 500 executives have role to play in APEC summit

More than one-quarter of the Fortune 500 companies will send executives to attend the APEC 2014 CEO Summit in China, a sign that they are relying on one of the world's biggest regional trade blocs to fuel their growth.

Yu Ping, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that President Xi Jinping will attend the summit and deliver a keynote speech. Heads of government from the United States, New Zealand, Chile, Indonesia, Vietnam and other economies will also attend.

The summit will gather 1,500 APEC economic leaders, chief executive officers and scholars in Beijing to discuss key issues facing the development of the Asia-Pacific region. The topics will include advancing regional economic integration, promoting innovative development, economic reform and growth, as well as strengthening comprehensive connectivity and global finance.

The summit and APEC Business Advisory Council dialogue with leaders will be held on Nov 9 and 10.

"Business communications will be stepped up to increase understanding between Chinese and international companies as the global economy recovers," said Yu.

"The Asia-Pacific region has become the area with the world's fastest economic growth, greatest potential and most active cooperation," said Yu. "The region's developing momentum is unprecedentedly robust with freer flows of capital, commodities, information and labor, as well as a mega-market."

The 21 APEC economies account for 40 percent of the world's population, 57 percent of global GDP and 46 percent of international trade. The summit is the premier platform for APEC economic leaders and business executives to discuss economic issues and promote regional trade, investment and cooperation.

CCPIT has been responsible for organizing Chinese business delegations to the APEC CEO Summits held in different countries since 2000.

"Eager to restore their earnings potential, all big international companies have been calling on governments in countries where they have investment to accelerate the pace of market reform, trade policies, investment conditions, government work efficiency and the rule of law," said Zhou Shijian, a senior researcher at Tsinghua University.

zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn