World Economic Forum's 4th Summer Davos in Tianjin to focus on sustainability

At a press conference in Beijing on Sept. 7, the World Economic Forum announced the key participants and program of its Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2010 ("Summer Davos" in Asia), which will take place in Tianjin from Sept. 13 to Sept. 15. The Annual Meeting of the New Champions is the foremost global business gathering in Asia. Introduced in 2007, the meeting is hosted in partnership with the Government of the People's Republic of China represented by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Over 1,300 participants from 85 countries will take part.

The Annual Meeting of the New Champions provides a platform for the rising generation of global leaders from business and society to contribute to broader policy discussions and engage with the world's top business executives. The New Champions are led by the forum's growing community of global growth companies as well as the communities of technology pioneers, young global leaders and young scientists.

This year's Annual Meeting of the New Champions is designed to prepare leaders from business and government for this new growth context under the theme "Driving Growth Through Sustainability," which will be explored in the program under four main pillars: Improving Competitiveness Through Science and Technology; Creating New Value from Business Models and for Future Markets; Facilitating Economic and Social Change and Designing Effective Global, Industry and Regional Solutions.

"The Annual Meeting of the New Champions will highlight how the sustainability imperative is transforming companies and reshaping industries," said Jeremy Jurgens, Senior Director at the World Economic Forum and Head of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions and Community of Global Growth Companies. "The global growth companies at this year's Summer Davos are at the forefront of demonstrating how entrepreneurship, innovation and technology can create new growth opportunities."

Ren Xuefeng, Vice-Mayor of Tianjin, People's Republic of China, said, "The Government of Tianjin and its citizens are proud to support the Annual Meeting of the New Champions with our world-class facilities and services. We wish to provide the best environment possible for all the participants to feel welcome and engage productively in this important global gathering."

"The fourth Summer Davos will be held at a crucial time of global economic recovery. Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the opening plenary and deliver a special speech. At this event, China will present the achievements of the Chinese government in coping with sustainable development. On this global platform, China will also demonstrate its positive attitude, willingness to contribute to the stability of the global economy, and China's grand goal for peaceful, harmonious and collaborative development in the world." said Li Bin, Deputy Director-General, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), People's Republic of China.

A select group of business leaders from the World Economic Forum's Member companies who have extensive international experience in building global businesses will act as Mentors at the Meeting. They are: Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Jubilant Bhartia Group, India; President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board, Nestlé, Switzerland; Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum; Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American, United Kingdom; Eckhard Cordes, Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer, METRO GROUP, Germany; Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Infosys Technologies, India; Jack Ma Yun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alibaba Group, People's Republic of China; James E. Rogers, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Duke Energy Corporation, USA; Cher Wang, Chairman, HTC-VIA, Taiwan, China.

Other leading Chinese political leaders taking part in the Meeting include Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology; Zhang Ping, Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission; Zhang Xiaoqiang, Vice-Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission; Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Cui Tiankai, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wu Hailong, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wang Chen, Minister, State Council Information Office; Li Jingtian, Senior Vice-President, Central Party School of the Communist Party of China; Dai Xianglong, Chairman, National Council for Social Security Fund; Ma Jiantang, Commissioner, National Bureau of Statistics of China; Cheng Siwei, Chairman, International Finance Forum (IFF); Zhang Gaoli, Party Secretary, CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee; Huang Xingguo, Mayor of Tianjin; Zhao Yong, Deputy Governor of Hebei; Xia Deren, Party Secretary, Dalian CPC Municipal Committee; Li Wancai, Mayor of Dalian; Xu Qin, Mayor of Shenzhen; Ai Wenli, Mayor of Shijiazhuang; Wang Bo, Mayor of Huhhot; Jierla Yishamuding, Mayor of Urumqi; Zhang Bingsheng, Mayor of Taiyuan; Dai Yulin, Party Secretary of Dandong; Wen Zhenfu, Vice-Mayor of Wuhan; Fan Li, Vice-Mayor of Nanning; Yu Hongyi, Vice-Mayor of Ningbo; and Yu Shan, Vice-Mayor of Tangshan.

By Fon Mathuros, World Economic Forum