Robert Walter Meyer, Professor of State University of New York

The first Global Economic Leaders Summit 2011, co-sponsored by Asia Pacific CEO Association (APCEO) and the People's Government of Jilin Province got underway at the Shangri-La Hotel in Changchun on Monday September 5.

The theme of the first summit is: "The transfer of international technology and industry in the new round of global economic restructuring." The summit aims to integrate economic resources, promote international collaboration among industry leaders, and strengthen international industrial cooperation.

Chen Weigen, vice governor of Jilin Province, addressed the summit's opening ceremony. "The global economy hasn't recovered from the global financial crisis and still faces huge challenges," Chen said.. "Accelerating industrial convergence, strengthening international collaboration and developing science and technology are the most important tasks for every country and every industry."

Zheng Xiongwei, Executive Chairman of Asia-Pacific CEO Association, also spoke at the opening ceremony. "In the new step of facing international industrial and technology transfer, the summit will highlight the key global economic issues and promote industrial cooperation," said he.

As both Governor Zheng and Executive Chairman Zheng said during the opening ceremony, the task of carrying out industry transfer in the new round of global restructuring is of the utmost importance. Many countries suffered economic losses during the 2008 financial crisis. The summit, therefore, has given economic leaders an opportunity to discuss the traits, direction, and rules of current global industry transfer, and to help establish industry transfer policies that will both encourage economic recovery and foster future growth.

The summit, which concludes tonight (September 6), gathered more than 500 people, including officials and economists from 50 countries and regions, executives from Fortune 500 companies, and management figures from different industries. During the summit, they also held open dialogues on the current global economic situation and trends, and also demonstrated successful industry transfer strategies.