China’s week of forums a reminder of how quickly things can change
At high-profile gatherings this week, notions of China’s rise and the West’s decline were in vogue – but in today’s world, attitudes change fast
“The East is rising and the West is declining.”
On Sunday, more than 80 heads of leading multinationals like Apple, BMW and Ikea – along with chiefs of international organisations and prominent global scholars – attended the China Development Forum in Beijing.
The annual event, which began in 2000, is typically one of the few venues where foreign business leaders may have a chance to interact with high-ranking Chinese officials after the “Two Sessions” parliamentary gathering where economic goals are laid out. Compared to previous years, this year’s pool of CEOs appeared to be more diversified, though executives from US companies still made up the largest group of attendees.
Not long after, many at this forum hopped onto planes bound for the southern island province of Hainan, where they would take part in another. At the Boao Forum for Asia, they shared their optimism for China’s rising role in the global stage, as well as their disappointment in the US’ retreat from global institutions.
One was Oxford University economist Ian Goldin, who was present in Beijing as well as Boao. “People don’t want to go to a conference in the US any more since Trump,” he said. “Because there are issues on visas, and they’re getting stopped at the borders and asked questions.”
“I have come to China so many times, and this is the first time I need only show my passport,” said John Keane, a politics professor at the University of Sydney.