I warmly congratulate the opening of CHENGWEI Europe Forum 2012.

This forum is a collaboration of five institutions: the Organizing Committee of the exhibition Contemporary Chinese Seals by Li Lanqing, the Chinese Embassy in the UK, China Europe International Business School, CHENGWEI Capital and London Business School. It has gathered experts from China and Europe and offered an exceptional platform for dialogue and exchange.

This forum focuses on a key economic subject: seeking momentum for new growth. Since the onset of financial crisis in 2008, global economy has been oscillating between recession and recovery. Despite some green shoots of growth, its future is fraught with uncertainties. Against this backdrop, the Chinese economy also faces a host of challenges, such as shifting growth pattern, industrial upgrading, boosting domestic demand and securing sustained growth in the future. In an effort to answer all these questions, this forum aims to make a deep analysis of the Chinese economy and identify new drivers of growth.

For two reasons Europe is a fitting venue for this forum.

First, Europe is the largest trading partner of China. It is also a main source of China’s technology imports. China is also the most important trading partner of Europe. Without recovery and growth of European economy, growth of China would be impossible.

Second, to achieve economic growth, China needs to explore European markets and seize the opportunities there. Especially in the current global economic realities, increasing investment in Europe will not only help Chinese companies go global but also get Europe over the current difficulties. So it is a real win-win.

I hope and I believe CHENGWEI Europe Forum 2012 will make a positive contribution to deepening China-Europe economic cooperation.

I wish the forum a great success.