The forum made the world's smartest business leaders gather here, and included the participation of representatives from 77 Top 500 companies, said Rik Kirland, global editor of Fortune.

Rik Kirland said he was pleased to see Chinese leaders attend the forum, attributing the forum's success to their aid.

The 2005 Fortune Forum included a Sports and Culture Roundtable on the first day, as well as 11 conferences and 15 seminars in the second and third days. Entrepreneurs and economists exchanged views on Chinese and Asian finance, science, technology, energy and trade.

"The topic changing for the three Fortune Forums respectively held in China's Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing correlates with China's development," said Zhao Qizheng, minister of the State Council Information Office.

The Fortune Forum in Shanghai was only themed on China, and the Fortune Forum in Hong Kong was themed on Asia, Zhao said. The Fortune Forum this time combined China's development with Asia and world's development, which reflects China's increasing national strength, he said.

A good forum needs attractive contents, senior participants and an ideal local partner, said Peter Wolf, senior vice president for international affairs of Time-Warner Group. "Obviously we have found the ideal cooperative partner," said he, expressing the belief that the relationship between Fortune and China will continue to grow. 
 

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2005)