“Tianjin’s Night”

Davos is a small town located at the eastern part of Switzerland. It is famed for “Davos Forum”, an annual world economic forum held every winter. “Davos Forum” is the top forum for the international economic circle. Having been held for 30 years in a row, the forum becomes an important platform for global non-governmental get-togethers of politicians, entrepreneurs, and academicians to discuss world economic issues. It thus gained its name “economic united nations”.

On September 8, 2007, Dr. Klaus Schwab, chairman of the World Economic Forum, announced at the closing ceremony of “the 1st Annual Meeting of the New Champions” in Dalian that 2008 Summer Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum would be held in Tianjin, China. Since then the coastal city has been closely tied with Davos and attracted eyeballs from economists worldwide. Besides, CPC Tianjin Committee and Tianjin Municipal Government paid attention to Tianjin’s host of 2008 Summer Davos Forum.

The delegation participated in 2008 Annual Meeting in Davos on January 23, taking a hard-won chance to introduce Tianjin to the world and gain experiences to prepare for the Summer Davos Forum. Zhang Gaoli, secretary of CPC Tianjin Committee, and Huang Guoxing, deputy major of Tianjin, wrote a letter to Dr. Schwab for expressing their confidence and best wishes to hold the Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin. Before leaving, the delegation held several work meetings, defining work divisions, deciding to learn and exchange more in the short period of time and taking every chance to publicize and promote the development and opening up of Tianjin and Binhai New Area. After it arrived in Switzerland, its members threw themselves into busy works in main venues, sub-venues and hotels.

“Tianjin’s Night” at Davos Forum

On January 24, Vice-premier Zen Peiyan gave a speech at the plenary session of the Davos Forum and sincerely invited all participants to join the Annual Meeting of Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin on this September.

At 18:00, the Tianjin Delegation formally raised the curtain of “Tianjin’s Night”. Soon as participants came into the main venue, they were astonished at highly-hung red palace lanterns, fair-sounding Chinese music, well-smelling food of Tianjin style, and good wine, reveling in the thick Chinese atmosphere.The delegation repeatedly negotiated with the organizational committee of the forum and spared no efforts to hold the “Tianjin’s Night” in the grant hall outside of the main venue, for the sake of impressing the global elites with 2008 Summer Davos Forum.

The English sign of “China Tianjin-2008 Summer Davos Forum”, introductions of Tianjin and Binhai New Area on TV screens, Swiss waiters in Chinese mandarin jacket, elaborate red tablecloths, and little gifts…All shown thick Chinese style and Tianjin characteristics at “Tianjin’s Night”. After that officials of the World Economic Forum highly praised “Tianjin’s Night” and recognized it as the highlight of that Davos.On the site of “Tianjin’s Night”, the delegation took the chance to deeply exchange with participants from varied countries, introducing upgraded condition of Tianjin’s economy and society and inviting them to join the Summer Davos Forum in Binhai New Area. Dr. Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, attended it in person, satisfying with its plan and innovation and believing that the Summer Davos Forum will surprise the world.

Thanks to large influx of guests, the cocktail party had to be wrapped up one hour later, which was rarely seen at punctual Davos Forum. The guests shared 1000-odd brochures and gifts, leaving the party with satisfying smiles and best wishes to 2008 Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin.

Powerful introduction and promotion of Tianjin

Tianjin Delegation shared ideas and gained experiences in Davos, making new friends and greeting old friends, introducing Tianjin’s economy and society, promoting investment environment of Binhai New Area, beefing up exchanges and negotiations with industrial and commercial circles, and coming to many consensuses.

The delegation leader Wang Shuzu met Daniel Bouton, vice president of Chevron on January 24, exchanging ideas about the cooperation between Tianjin and Chevron. As the fourth largest petroleum company, Bouton was interested in the investment environment of Binhai New Area and the Summer Davos Forum.

Members of the delegation also took the chance to expand public relations, introduce Tianjin to all participants, winning their support to the 2nd Annual Meeting of the New Champion in Tianjin. They covered by Phoenix Satellite TV, asahi.com, Dow Jones News, and Financial News.

Tianjin expects the Summer Davos

On January 25 local time, Wang Shuzu held a talk with current executive director and CEO of the World Economic Forum signing an understanding momentum for the 2nd Annual Meeting of the New Champions. It indicates that Tianjin made an essential stride towards the Summer Davos.

The Summer Davos Forum, namely “the Annual Meeting of the New Champions”, is the largest and most influential economic forum that China has ever held. It will be held in this September, demonstrating China’s great achievements of reform and opening up over 30 years and pushing Tianjin to the stage of world economy. Therefore, Tianjin laid stress on holding the international pageant with characteristics, all-round showing the excellent image of Tianjin and Binhai New Area.

Tianjin, a new champion city, will gather global champions on the stage in September 2008.