China hosts record‑attendance Summer Davos Forum in Dalian

More than 1,700 participants from over 90 countries gathered in Dalian, Liaoning, for the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum 2026. The event, held under the theme “Innovating at Scale”, highlighted innovation as the key driver of China's growth in its 15th Five‑Year Plan, with emphasis on artificial intelligence, robotics, bio‑manufacturing and green technologies.

World Economic Forum executives, including Gim Huay Neo, noted strong corporate interest in collaborating with China, while Chinese Premier Li Qiang called innovation essential for stable, long‑term economic resilience. The forum’s venue was powered by 100 % renewable electricity and used more than 85 % recycled building materials. Representatives such as IKEA China’s Pontus Erntell and WEF director Mirek Dusek highlighted the global spill‑over of Chinese‑developed solutions.

China’s rise in the Global Innovation Index was underscored, with the country ranking tenth in 2025 and being the only middle‑income economy among the top 30. The next Summer Davos is scheduled for Tianjin in 2027.