China will maintain strong growth momentum and continue to contribute to regional and global economic growth, said China's state Councilor Tang Jiaxuan at the eighth Annual CEO Forum of BusinessWeek Tuesday in Beijing.

Tang made the remark in a keynote speech of the forum's opening ceremony. He said BusinessWeek decision to hold the gathering in China was a "wise choice" because China's economic growth provides a good opportunity for global investors, especially for multinational corporations.

Co-sponsored by BuisnessWeek, the leading global business magazine, and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the two-day forum has the theme "The leadership edge: Delivering Innovation, Driving Strategic Change."

Tang said the forum provides an opportunity for political and business leaders "to discuss economic and business strategies for China and the world and to explore approaches to tackling opportunities and challenges in a fast-changing world."

The forum has drawn CEOs from more than a hundred multinationals and statesmen including East Timor Prime Minister Mary Alkatiri, director-general of the World Trade Organization Supachai Panitchpakdi, former Philippine President Fidel Ramos, former Australian Prime Minister Robert James Lee Hawke, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and Mike Moore, former Malaysian President Mahathir Mohamad.