Coastal city attracts world's attention

The article is written by Tan Chengxu, mayor of Dalian, Liaoning province.

Host city Dalian welcomes more than 2,000 leaders from government, business, civil society, academia and the arts from nearly 100 countries and regions during the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2019.

On this occasion, I would like to extend my sincere welcome on behalf of the 6.9 million citizens to guests from around the world to invest in Dalian.

Dalian is a coastal city with cozy climate and deep water wharfs.

The city is located at the center of the Bohai Economic Rim and serves as a gateway to Northeast China. The unique geographical advantage of the location gives Dalian the development momentum.

Dalian is an open, inclusive and innovative city, home to a diverse immigrant population and rich in local culture. It is also a destination featuring business-friendly environment and modernity.

In 40 years of reform and opening-up, the city's strengths and functions have increasingly improved.

As one of the domestic cities that enjoy most favorable policies for opening-up, Dalian has the most foreign businesses and the largest growth of economic gross in Northeast China.

The establishment of the Dalian area of the China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone also promotes the city's advantages in opening-up.

Dalian is ramping up efforts in building crucial hubs in Northeast Asia, such as an international aviation center, a logistics center, a trade center and a regional financial center.

The city is also striving to establish modern industrial agglomeration areas with international competitiveness and pioneer areas featuring industrial optimization and economic and social development.

The Summer Davos Forum being held in Dalian is an illustration of the city's charm.

It attracts more trade cooperation and cultural exchanges with partners at home and abroad.

So far, the city has attracted 115 Fortune 500 companies and a total of 275 investment projects, helping to promote the city's function and international level.

The AMNC has become a crucial window and a win-win platform for exchanges between governments and companies around the world.

With the theme of "Leadership 4.0: Succeeding in a New Era of Globalization", the AMNC will hold more than 200 sessions and workshops. "How China Shapes the Future of Finance" and "China's New Pitch to Foreign Business" were put forward by Dalian and set as sessions. We will share the wisdom in Dalian to promote the development of the global economy.

Dalian is opening its arms to invite you to enjoy its beautiful scenery of the mountain and sea to invest here, and create a brilliant future together.

(China Daily 07/01/2019 page10)