A file photo of Sichuan's Chengdu city.

City:

Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

Venue: Shangri-La Hotel, Chengdu Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

The Fortune Global Forum has been held in China three times, more than any other country. As the Forum's first host city in western China, Chengdu follows previous hosts Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong SAR.

China's economic and social development over the past four decades has been nothing short of dramatic. Chengdu, one of China's major inland cities, has also seen tremendous changes since the country's Western Development initiative was launched in 2000. Today, over 200 Fortune Global 500 companies operate in the city.

As the hometown of giant pandas, Chengdu has long been known as "the Land of Abundance" and today is the most important financial center in southwest China. The city has a higher export volume and boasts more Fortune Global 500 companies, foreign-funded banks, insurance companies, and foreign consulates than any other city in central or western China. Chengdu's talent pool is unrivaled, with more than 30 institutions of higher learning in the region. In 2011, Fortune selected Chengdu as one of the world's "Best New Cities for Global Business."

Chengdu holds enormous potentials for future development. For example, the recently established Tianfu New Area is a modern and international urban center for business, commerce, and residential development. About 81% of the Tianfu New Area is under the jurisdiction of the city of Chengdu, and it covers a total of 3 sub-cities, 7 counties, and 37 towns and neighborhoods. The area is designed to advance the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone, spearhead the economic growth of western China, boost implementation of the country's economic development strategy, and become a major gateway for inland talent and goods to the outside world.