Following BBC's Question Time program on China, CNN's celebrated senior journalist Jim Clancy hosted a roundtable discussion about China's role in the world called "CNN Connects: China Rising" Tuesday in Beijing.

The program featured a panel of distinguished speakers and a live studio audience of 120 people, including some of the chiefs of global businesses, heads of state, and leading thinkers, currently gathering in Beijing for the on-going Fortune Global Forum.

"By airing the program, CNN deepens its commitment to examining China's movements on the world stage, its impact on Asian and neighboring countries, "said Rena Golden, senior vice president of CNN International.

On the panel were heads of brand-name companies like Irwin Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm, Luc Vandevelde, chairman of Carrefour, Peggy Yu, founder of Dangdang.com, the largest on-line bookstore, and Li Shan, CEO of the Bank of China International Holdings. Clay Chandler, Fortune Magazine Senior Writer, Robert Friedman, International Editor of Fortune Magazine, Han Sung-Joo, Professor of Korea University, and Wu Jianmin, President of the China Foreign Affairs University also attended the roundtable discussion.

Participants debated on various subjects, ranging from China's economic growth to China's foreign relations. Panelists agreed that China's rise means more gain for the world, rather than fear.

Their consensus coincided with the result of an on-line poll by the CNN.com. Answering the question of "Does the world have more to gain or more to fear from the emergence of China as an economic power?" 69 percent of voters voted for "more to gain" while 31 percent voted for "more to fear" at CNN's website, according to Clancy.

With China set to become the world's largest economy by mid- century, and with its international influence on the rise, CNN is airing a unique week of live and special features from Beijing, named "Eye on China".

From May 14 to 22, "Eye on China" will give CNN audiences in more than 200 countries and regions a comprehensive look inside China, one of the world's fastest growing economies. The coverage will focus on China's swiftly evolving role in global politics and business, and the impact of the country's rapid modernization on its people and culture.

"A team of award-winning journalists have traveled from the United States and Hong Kong to join Beijing-based correspondents for the week of Eye on China coverage, which aims to give our viewers a greater understanding of the many complex issues facing modern China," said Golden.

Other programs of the "Eye on China" will include a one-hour documentary, "Navigating the New China", two special editions of " Talk Asia", as well as "CNN Business Traveler" from Shanghai.

Source: Xinhua