China Development Forum (CDF) (Chinese: 中国发展高层论坛 ) is a high level and annual international forum initiated in 2000 by China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) of the Republic of China's State Council. Initially conceived by former Premier

Zhu Rongji Zhu Rongji (; IPA: ; born 23 October 1928) is a retired Chinese politician who served as Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1998 to 2003 and CCP Politburo Standing Committee member from 1992 to 2002 along with the Chinese Communist ...

. The forum aims to strengthen communication at high level between China and the world.

History

Founded in 2000, the forum is sponsored by the Development Research Center (CDRF), a national, public and non-profit institution directly under the General Office of the State Council's Republic of China. At its inception, the forum was a relatively intimate meeting between Chinese leaders and foreign experts. Premier Zhu Rongji initially conceived the idea of the China Development Forum, which he viewed as a stress test for leading officials, and encouraged policy debate and discussion with the foreign experts in attendance. It's scope grew significantly thereafter. The 1st China Development Forum (CDF) titled "China's 2010 Goals, Policy and Perspective" was opened by

Wen Jiabao Wen Jiabao (born 15 September 1942) is a retired Chinese politician who served as the Premier of the State Council from 2003 to 2013. In his capacity as head of government, Wen was regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic polic ...

, Vice Premier of the State Council's Republic of China at the time and noted on his assured confidence in the importance of CDF to China's development. At the March 2015 China Development Forum in 2015, OECD secretary-general

Angel Gurría In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles inc ...

commented that China's GDP growth will become increasingly reliant on domestic consumption, sustainable resource use, and rising productivity, which in turn will require a new normal for

urbanization Urbanization (or urbanisation) refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It is predominantly t ...

. The 20th forum was held from March 23 to 25, 2019 with Vice Premier

Han Zheng Han Zheng (; born 22 April 1954) is a Chinese politician serving as the Senior Vice Premier of the State Council. He has also been leader of the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs since April 2018. From 2017 to 2022, he serve ...

of the State Council's Republic of China who attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Despite the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...

, the annual event in 2021 was held in a mix format, virtually and on-site, with its location at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse underlining the major importance of this forum in China's development thinking. In 2023, Premier

Li Qiang Li Qiang (; born 23 July 1959) is a Chinese politician and a senior leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), serving as the second-ranking member of the 20th CCP Politburo Standing Committee, behind CCP general secretary Xi Jinping. From ...

sought to build foreign investment confidence at the forum, tending executives that "China would open its door wider and wider." Commerce Minister

Wang Wentao Wang Wentao (; born May 1964) is a Chinese politician who has been Minister of Commerce since December 2020. He formerly served as Communist Party Secretary of Jinan and Deputy Party Secretary of Shandong province. Career Wang was born in 1964 ...

described foreign companies as "not guests, but family."

Organization

Mission

It is a platform for dialogue between the Chinese government and multinational corporations, leaders of international organizations and well-known scholars, aiming to strengthen communication between China and the world. Since 2000, the scale of the event has changed and increased to include more senior academic heavyweight at the annual event, academic publications, cooperation with OECD, and, occasionally, special event with major figure such as the visit by

Henry Kissinger Henry Alfred Kissinger (; ; born Heinz Alfred Kissinger, May 27, 1923) is a German-born American politician, diplomat, and geopolitical consultant who served as United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under the preside ...

in 2023 who was then aged 100 years old. In depth key take-ways from China Development Forum 2023 include: a 1% increase in China's GDP growth leading to 0.3% growth in other Asian economies. In order to maintain integrity, stability, and the security of global industrial and supply chains, China wants to deepen cooperation to become the "world factory".

Format

The China Development Forum occurs annually after the

National People's Congress The National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (NPC; ), or simply the National People's Congress, is constitutionally the supreme state authority and the national legislature of the People's Republic of China. With 2,9 ...

meets in March. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum occurred virtually.

References

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External links