Beijing to host high-end platform for leaders

More than 40 former government heads, global strategists and business leaders from various countries will attend the Second Understanding China Conference from Nov 1 to 3 in Beijing.

Since its launch in 2013, the conference has proved a high-end platform for top global intellectuals and business leaders to discuss China's politics, economy, diplomacy and defense.

"I expect the world to have a different understanding of China from the conference, because this will generate huge benefits," said Wu Jianmin, executive vice chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, and former Chinese Ambassador to France.

"Last year, China's economic contribution to the world economic performance was about 30 percent. I believe if we can organize this Understanding China conference, through these face-to-face dialogues, the world will be able to better understand China, and this will help China and the rest of the world as well world economic development," Wu said.

According to Wu, 15 former presidents or prime ministers, 20 former ministers and 20 academic and business leaders will be present, including Ernesto Zedillo, former president of Mexico, Nicolas Berggruen, Chinaman of the Berggruen Institute and Reid Hoffman, executive chairman of LinkedIn.

Guests will have a chance to conduct face-to-face discussions with Chinese decision makers on issues such as China's 13th Five-Year-Plan and China's economic strategy, China's regional development strategy and global governance.

"The timing is specifically chosen after the fifth plenary session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC, which will mainly talk about issues related to the 13th Five-Year-Plan," Wu said.

"As we know the five-year plans are very important strategies in China, the 13th Five-Year-Plan will be of great interest not only in China but also across the international community," he said.

The plenary session will be held in Beijing from Oct 26 to 29.