Curtain of the Fortune Global Forum 2005, themed "China and new Asian Century" was lowered down on May 18. The rapid changes taking place in China are showing the country's growing charms to the world. Topics about China have remained hotspots throughout the forum, and topic change at fortune forum especially demands people's pondering.

From financial crisis to Asian Century

At the Fortune Global Forum held in Shanghai in 1999 when China was not yet a member of the WTO and still in the shadow of the Asian financial crisis, how China adapted itself to the world dominated participants' conversations. Some even began to speculate whether the RMB would depreciate. While at the Fortune Global Forum held in Bejing, the economic situation has absolutely changed. The Chinese economy has become the most thriving one in the world and Asian economy is gradually reviving as well.

The topics at the Fortune Forum Beijing have revealed that more and more business leaders have realized Asia, along with its leaders have become increasingly prominent in the global economy. A new economic and geopolitical center is forming, and China is the undisputable leading role in the center.

From attention on environmental protection to focus on energy

Compared with Fortune Global Forum 1999 when participants laid emphasis on topics about environment, the skyrocketing oil price in recent years has made energy a key topic for the forum in Beijing, where lots of viewpoints on energy clash at conference tables. Topics like whether people should turn to substitute to oil as the oil reserve is drying up; how developing countries gain balance between quickening short-term demand for energy and its long-term impact on economy and environment; whether regional energy cooperation is practical etc. are discussed at the forum.

From confidence in China to fascinated by China

For world business leaders, China is becoming the most attractive market that maintains fastest growth rate in the world. In 2004, China contributed 10 percent to world economic growth and 12 percent for growth of world trade. China and the US are hailed as two engines for the world economy.

In today's China consumers know Nokia, the world top 500 enterprise that has taken root in China quite well. Nokia will join hands with China to embrace a more successful and brighter future in next 20 years, said He Qingyuan, President of Nokia China. According to CEO of eBay Meg Whitman, registered users of eBay has increased 1.8 million in China in Q1 2005 and the total number of users has topped 11.6 million. The continued rapid growth of turnover indicates eBay is receiving gratifying return from its investment in China.

The course of China's opening up is also a process in which foreign investors involve themselves in and share profits. From 1990 to 2004 foreign investors remitted profit of 250 bln US dollars out of China. Two thirds of the 280,000 foreign-invested enterprises in China make money. A poll by China American Chamber of Commerce says 3/4 of American companies make profit in China, and 42 percent of them report profit higher than their world average.

By People's Daily Online