On November 14, 2009, the opening ceremony of 3rd International CEO Roundtable of Chinese and Foreign Multinational Corporations was held at China World Hotel in Beijing. Mr Zhou Tienong, vice-Chairman of NPC Standing Committee, and Mr. Du Qinglin, vice-Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Director of United Front Work Department made addresses respectively. Mr Cheng Siwei, chairman of the Organizing Committee of the roundtable and Vice-Chairman of NPC Standing Committee delivered theme speech. Mr. George Kell, executive Director of Global Compact Office read the congratulatory message from UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon.
According to the information source, the roundtable was jointly held by China International Institute of Multinational Corporations, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Global Compact Office. And it was organized by China International Institute of Multinational Corporations and People’s Government of Chongyang District, Beijing, China.
‘Forum On Transformation and Transition Under Financial Crisis’ was also held on the opening ceremony, minister of Industry and Information Technology, P.R.C. Mr. Li Yizhong, Deputy Mayor of Beijing, P.R.C Ms. Cheng Hong, Executive Director of UN Environment Programme Achim Steiner, Under Secretary-General of China Development and Reform Commission Mr. Yang Limin, Executive Director of Global Compact Office George Kell, Global CEO of American Manpower Inc. David Axis delivered wonderful speeches respectively.
The conference focused on the theme of ‘Cooperate With Joint Efforts, Bridge Over Difficulties and Promote Development’. ‘Forum on Transformation and Transition under Financial Crisis’, ‘Forum on Finance and Capital’, ‘Forum on Clean Energy and Environment’ and ‘Forum on Bring in’ and ‘Go Global’ were held after the opening ceremony. Chinese state leaders and leaders from Ministry of Commerce, Development Research Center of the State Council, Ministry of Environmental Protection, China Banking Regulatory Commission, China Securities Regulatory Commission, China Insurance Regulatory Commission, United Nations officials, representatives from foreign chambers of commerce in China as well as Chinese and foreign industrial leaders from Fortune 500 companies delivered speeches at the conference and relevant forums and acted as dialogue guests.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon highly praised the opening of the roundtable; he said ‘Your focus on strengthening international cooperation and sustainable development is especially timely. In just a few weeks, Governments will gather in Copenhagen in an effort to forge an international agreement on climate change. That makes the call for sustainable business practices more important than ever. Progress in reaching an agreement will help to fundamentally transform the global economy. It will spur innovation, unleash investments and power green growth across the planet. Your leadership and commitment will send a powerful signal to policymakers to make concrete progress on an agenda for action. In recent years, many Chinese companies have incorporated the tenets of business responsibility into their core strategies and operations. This is very encouraging. I hope more Chinese companies will respond to this call to action and show this kind of leadership. Together, we can lay the foundation for a sustainable and prosperous future in China and around the world. In that spirit, please accept my best wishes for a productive meeting.’
UN Under-Secretary-General Mr. Sha Zukang also sent a congratulatory message to the roundtable. Representatives all thought that the CEO Roundtable established a platform for the communication between Chinese and foreign multinational corporations, which has helped promoting the cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies enlarging markets and seeking business opportunities.
Over 100 representatives and fifteen global CEOs or vice-presidents from Fortune 500 companies, over 300 leaders from top 500 Chinese companies, and more than 40 leaders from embassy and foreign chambers of commerce in China presented at the roundtable. Vice minister of commerce Mr. Chen Jian said: the roundtable and relevant forums are helpful in actively facilitating our national multinational corporations in establishing global strategy, and helping enterprises getting rid of the crisis, promoting the sustainable development of our national economy.
The roundtable has achieved a great success and closed on November 15!
(News Source: China International Council for the Promotion of Multinational Corporations)