Shanghai Holds International Business Advisors Conference

International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai 2000 Opened

The 12th Conference of the International Business Advisors Council for the mayor of Shanghai was held Sunday.

In attendance were 26 entrepreneurs from the United States, Britain, France and other countries who came to form a "think tank" for the mayor and other local policymakers in Shanghai.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Shanghai Mayor Xu Kuangdi said his city will change the pattern of government management, reduce government interference in economic affairs and create a favorable environment for market operation.

Shanghai will open wider to the outside world, attract regional headquarters of multinational corporations, open its banking, insurance, telecom and service industries to overseas companies in line with China's commitments made for its entry into the World Trade Organization and encourage foreign firms to invest in information, biology, medicine, new materials and transform its State-owned enterprises, he said.

Government officials and entrepreneurs from cities around the globe passed on their respective experience on urban management and offered suggestions for Shanghai's future development.