China's commitment to further advance its opening-up in multiple sectors has boosted the confidence of business leaders and academicians attending the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, towards the prospects of China market.
Featuring the theme "Next Frontiers for Growth," the event, which was concluded in northeast China's coastal city of Dalian on Thursday, gathered over 1,700 prominent figures from the public and private sectors in more than 100 countries and regions to jointly explore new drivers and pathways for global economic growth.
During the three-day forum, international guests said they were impressed by China's efforts to open up further to the outside world, and expressed optimism about expanding cooperation with the country.
"We have grown with the scale and we have localized our supply chain to serve the Chinese market. We always bring in new products and technologies and we innovate and grow with the Chinese economy," said Anu Rathninde, president of Johnson Controls Asia Pacific.
"Recently, the Chinese government has announced the extension of the visa-free policy for a number of countries, including my own, Australia, because what it means is that it allows greater trade and mobility between the two countries. It is particularly important because tourism, trade, the mobility of international students and the mobility of international investment are very critical to having opened borders," said Joseph Martin Cheer, a professor of Western Sydney University.
Notably, this year's forum featured more than 20 AI-themed activities. International guests said they had taken advantage of the event to explore the Chinese market, and look for partnership.
"I was primarily here to understand what is missing so that we could perhaps build it with AI," said Maaz Ali Nadeem, CEO of Pakistani AI company VECTOR.
"China is a leader in technology, especially in the field of AI, automation, either it is electronics sectors. So I want to engage with people, so that my technology can be engaged," said Mohammad Salman Ali, CEO of another Pakistani AI financial services platform Virtual Remittance Gateway.
Guests said more efforts are underway to integrate AI with education and other sectors, aiming to improve mankind's life.
"AI is a tool that encompasses many things. What we have to do is to incorporate AI into our curriculum," said John Quelch, executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University.
"(We are) moving towards an economy, an intelligent economy, where actually the AI augments and assists people, amplifies their capabilities and helps us collectively achieve a better society and a better economy," said Jeremy Jurgens, managing director of the World Economic Forum.
In recent years, China has continued to promote institutional opening-up, forming a larger, broader, and deeper pattern in that regard.
"The Chinese economy remains as a major growth engine for the global economy. In recent years, China has also become a relatively important capital exporter. Whether in terms of trade, investment, or technology transfer, it can bring many opportunities. That is why the Summer Davos has attracted so many people to participate," said Fred Hu, chairman of Primavera Capital.
China's commitment to further opening-up boosts confidence at Summer Davos
China's commitment to further opening-up boosts confidence at Summer Davos
