In April 2012, Fortune publicly declared that the Fortune Forum 2013 would be held in Chengdu. Following Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing, Chengdu will become China's fourth city to host the global Fortune Forum. There are five main reasons Chengdu was selected to host.

Reason 1: Chengdu leads the Great Western Development Strategy

In the 12 years since the initiation of the Great Western Development Strategy, the average annual economic growth rate of Chengdu has ranked first amongst the 12 provincial capital cities in west China.

As a trade and logistics center and transportation and communications hub in the southwest, Chengdu boasts the most developed aviation and railway system among the central and western regions of China. Last year, Chengdu received the title of "No 4 Aviation City in China" as the passenger throughput at Chengdu Shangliu International Airport reached 29 million. In early 2012, the Civil Aviation Administration of China listed Chengdu airport as a national-level aviation hub parallel with airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Chengdu also has the most foreign consulates in central and western China. Up to now, nine countries have established consulates in Chengdu, including the United States and Germany. Over 200 of the Forbes Global 500 enterprises have settled in Chengdu. One of every two laptops around the globe uses chips made in Chengdu, and more than half the world's iPads are produced there.

Reason 2: Chengdu is a city of innovation

At present, Chengdu is home to more than 2,700 scientific research institutions and vocational and technical colleges, more than 80 national-level research and development centers, and more than 800,000 technical specialists. Chengdu also has the most institutions of higher education and scientific research institutes in central and western China.

There are over 42 institutions of higher education in Chengdu, including Sichuan University and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. These higher learning institutions produce more than 200,000 graduates every year and provide continuous innovative talent for the city. These factors have provided strong support for scientific and technical innovation and transformation in Chengdu.

A new high-efficiency solar cell called "Holy Bird" was made in Chengdu last July. It increases photoelectric transformation efficiency by 18 percent, 1 percent higher than that of conventional solar cells. The small 1 percent bump has helped push Chengdu's new energy industry significantly. Solar cells made in Chengdu are now competing at international levels.

Chengdu applied for 31,261 patents, with 25,981 patents granted in 2010. Patent application and approval numbers ranked Chengdu top amongst central and west China regions.

Reason 3: Chengdu is a city with unique cultural experiences

The Jinsha Civilization came into being in Chengdu more than 3,000 years ago. The gold foil picture known as the Holy Bird of the Sun unearthed in Chengdu's Jinshan site has become an urban image logo for the city as well as a symbol for Chinese cultural heritage protection.

As one of the first famous historic and cultural cities in China, Chengdu is the only city whose location and name have remained the same for more than 2,000 years. The World Dual Cultural Heritage site of Qingcheng Mountain, the cradle of Taoism, lies in Chengdu. Built more than 2,200 years ago, the Dujiang Weir Water Conservancy Project also lies in Chengdu and continues to play an important role in the city. China’s world-famous Tea culture also originated here. Chengdu has historically been a cherished place for intellectuals.

In February 2007, the United States Time magazine highlighted the modern and leisure features of Chengdu in the essay Welcome to China's China. "China's China" in the essay title has become the newest expression of Chengdu in an international context.

As the best tourist city in China, Chengdu has five world heritage sites within a 300-kilometer tourist circle. Chengdu is the gateway to Leshan Mountain, E'mei Mountain, Jiuzhaigou Valley, Huanglong and many other tourist resorts in western China. The World Centre of Excellence for Destinations officially awarded the title "World Excellent Tourist Destination City" to Chengdu in 2009.

Chengdu's pleasant weather is also an ideal home for pandas. There are 108 pandas in the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Base. At the beginning of 2012, the first six pandas were brought to the Dujiang Weir Breeding and Wild Research Center--Panda Valley located in Majiagou, Yutang town, Dujiang Weir, Chengdu.

Chengdu is also the origin of Sichuan cuisine, one of the four famous cuisines in China. Chengdu received the title "Gourmet Capital of the World" from UNESCO in 2012, becoming the first Asian city to receive such an honor. Popular boiled fish, Mapo tofu and Kung Pao chicken are outstanding representatives of Chengdu gourmet.

Reason 4: Chengdu is a famous exhibition city in China

The 12th Western China International Fair closed in Chengdu on Oct 22, 2011. The fair was attended by more than 78,000 guests from all circles, including exhibitors and purchasers from 105 countries and regions across the world, 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government), Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Since its establishment in 2000, the fair has been successfully held in Chengdu 12 times. The National (Spring) Sugar and Wine Products Fair has been held in Chengdu 22 times since its establishment in 1987. The fair permanently settled in Chengdu last year.

Chengdu has been successively awarded such titles as "One of Top 10 Exhibition Cities of China", "One of Top 10 Charming Conference Destination Cities of China" and "One of Top 10 Festival Celebration Cities of China" by the industry since 2009. In the next five years, Chengdu will become the number one exhibition city in central and western China and a first-rate exhibition city across the country. Chengdu also strives to become the "Exhibition Capital of China" by 2015 and "Exhibition Capital of Asia" by 2030.

Reason 5: Excellent administration and high efficiency government

Chengdu took the lead in proposing the construction of a standardized service-oriented government across China in 2001. It optimized governmental functions by reducing administrative examination and approval items and enhancing administration efficiency. Through repeated streamlining, the number of internal administrative examination and approval organizations of Chengdu authorities has been reduced to 48 from 179.

In 2004, Chengdu built the first governmental administration service center in China, creating a "one-stop" center housing both provincial and municipal governments. Chengdu began the One Window Parallel Examination and Approval project in 2007.

The Online Government Administration Hall was opened for trial operation in 2010 and serves as a public and transparent operating platform of administrative powers in Chengdu. Chengdu boasts the least procedures for examination and approval but has the highest efficiency amongst similar cities across China.

Chengdu invited 274 experts, entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens to put forward opinions and criticize its examination and approval process. As a result, Chengdu greatly reduced stamps and prepared a "list of powers". In mid-August 2012, Chengdu published the Duty Schedule of Leaders for the first time.

The number of internal administrative examination and approval organizations of Chengdu authorities was reduced to 48 from 179 more than 10 years ago. Administrative and non-administrative license examination and approval items have been streamlined by 91 percent and 79 percent, respectively. Chengdu has the least examination and approval matters among similar cities across China. Many government officials in Chengdu have begun using a new catch-phrase "Chengdu Can Do" in introducing the city, signifying that anything is possible in Chengdu.