Forum Preparations Going Well, Chinese Participants Confirmed

You don't have to look any further than the list of governmental officials scheduled to speak at the upcoming 2005 FORTUNE Global Forum to know that the Chinese Government is taking this event very seriously.

At a press conference held a the elegant Peninsula Palace Hotel in Beijing on April 6, State Council Information Office (SCIO) Director-General Jiang Weiqiang reiterated that China's President Hu Jintao would attend the gala opening of the forum and make a keynote speech on May 16 at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

In addition, Jiang said Minister of Information Industries Wang Xudong; National Development and Reform Minister Ma Kai and Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua would speak at the event. He said Commerce Minister Bo Xilai and SCIO Minister Zhao Qizheng will also attend the forum.

Beijing is playing host to the ninth instalment of the FORTUNE Global Forum series, which began in 1995 in Singapore. The May 16-18 event will be the third held in China, making China the only country that has ever hosted more than one forum. Other events were held in Shanghai in 1999 and in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2001.

Jiang said, "The Chinese Government attaches great importance to this event, and we feel that preparations are being made in a good way."

FORTUNE's chief representative in China, Jaime FlorCruz, who also serves as bureau chief in Beijing for Time Warner Company's Cable News Network (CNN), said, "The forum's preparations are doing very well, and this is symbolized by our new logo especially made for the upcoming Global Forum in Beijing. But we couldn't do this without the assistance from the SCIO and the Beijing Municipal Government."

Mike Federle, group publisher, FORTUNE/FORTUNE Small Business, who arrived in Beijing just before the news conference said, "The preparations are terrific. We are enjoying a great working relationship and partnership in putting this forum together.

"Ten of China's 15 companies listed on the FORTUNE Global 500 will attend the event, and Wal-Mart, which was number one on the FORTUNE 500 list, announced last Monday will also be represented.  CEO and President John B. Menzer will join us."

He said FORTUNE is celebrating its 75th anniversary of publication.