Sichuan capital lauded by overseas entrepreneurs

Chengdu, host city of the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, won praise from overseas delegates for its convention services, beautiful environment and prosperous development.

The Sichuan capital is the second city on the Chinese mainland to host the international event, which took place Sept 26-27. The event this year brought together 3,200 Chinese entrepreneurs and industry leaders from 105 countries and regions.

Zhang Yongqing, managing deputy auditor of the Chinese General Chamber in Thailand, said the city and the convention left him with a good impression.

“Compared with previous such conventions I have been to, this one is well-organized in terms of transportation, accommodations and meetings,” Zhang said.

Zhang said he likes the city's wide roads, its greenery and pleasant weather. And he added that Chengdu has a huge development potential.

“The city has a large population and vast area, while the coastal cities are becoming too crowded and labor costs too expensive,” Zhang said. Flying to Chengdu is as short as one to Shanghai and Guangzhou for him, he added.

Jo Meng Lie, from the Indonesia China Business Council, said she was impressed by the fast and significant development of Chengdu.

“I have been to many Chinese cities and seen a lot of old buildings everywhere, but here in Chengdu I see so many newly built buildings and mansions,” she said.

The businesswoman, who runs a restaurant that serves Chaozhou food, said she will investigate the business environment of Chengdu in the next two days and decide whether to invest in the city.

Lim Beng Lin, chairman of the Technology Committee of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the promising blueprint of Chengdu, the wide and tidy streets, and the organization of the convention gave him “confidence and a sense of security”.

Lin said he was more familiar with the business environment in southeastern China. But that area's rising labor costs, fierce competition and decreasing opportunities have led him to look westward.

Chengdu is accelerating internationalization by hosting world-class events, such as the 2013 Fortune Global Forum in June and the ongoing 12th WCEC.

City planners have set a goal to hold more than 500 high-level events annually by 2015 and create more than 10 world-class expo brands, building the city into “a famous convention and exhibition city with international influence”.

Since 2008, Chengdu has received awards recognizing it as one of China's top 10 cities for conventions, exhibitions, conferences and festivals.