By: Christian Pierce
Global executives hit the same wall every year. Uncertainty clouds markets. Protectionism rises. Supply chains shift without warning. Finding reliable growth feels impossible. China’s 17th Summer Davos Forum in Dalian (June 23-25) offered a way out. Over 1,700 guests from 90+ countries attended. The theme was scaled innovation. This marked 20 years since the forum first came to China in 2007.
The facts tell a clear story. Klaus Schwab saw China’s potential in 2006. He opened a WEF office in Beijing and invited coastal cities to host. Early forums asked how Chinese growth affected the world. Now, China takes center stage. Discussions cover consumption shifts, industrial transformation, and Belt and Road topics. Foreign firms like Rosen joined 16 years ago. They explored Dalian during the forum. Today, Rosen has over 400 stores there. Between 2015 and 2024, Dalian attracted 50 major foreign-invested projects via the forum. Chinese participants changed too. Early on, many faced high thresholds. This year, specialized “little giant” firms and unicorns rose by 40 percent. CATL’s Zeng Yuqun and State Grid’s Zhang Wenfeng served as co-chairs. Domestic innovation stands out. 16 of 23 new lighthouse factories (January) are Chinese. Over half the third batch of AI application stars (June) come from China. Bing Shan Songyang Compressor set up an AI lab. It cut material turnover by two days. Dalian Rongke Storage (founded 2008) uses intelligent robots in its vanadium flow battery workshops. It’s one of the few global players with full-chain mastery. The venue used 100% green power, cutting CO2 by 800 tons. Exhibits included new energy vehicles and driverless tech. There were over 30 AI-related agenda items.
This creates a tight business loop. Forum talks turn into concrete commitments. Rosen turned exposure into expansion. Saudi Arabia invested 83.7 billion yuan in Panjin ports and energy projects. Michelin poured 12.5 billion yuan into Shenyang for its largest tire base. Executives return home with clear views of China’s markets and innovation. They adjust strategies based on real opportunities, not headlines. Firms that use the forum as operational intelligence avoid growth deadlocks. They get inside the momentum instead of watching from outside.
Author bio: Christian Pierce, chief financial columnist analyzing global capital flows and corporate growth strategies.