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The main venue of the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, widely known as the Summer Davos, which commenced in Dalian, Liaoning Province on June 23. The panoramic view seems to capture China's expanding clout and dominance in hosting major international conferences and forums. / Xinhua News Agency

As demonstrated by China's ambition to overtake the United States in total economic output around 2035 and establish itself as the undisputed G1, the country is showcasing its meteoric rise and dominance in hosting major international conferences and forums. Given the sheer volume of global events Beijing has hosted across all continents with near-indiscriminate frequency, its aggressive forward march in the diplomatic arena is expected to proceed completely unchecked.

A prime, immediate example is the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions—widely known as the Summer Davos—which kicked off today on June 23 for a three-day run in Dalian, Liaoning Province. According to recent comprehensive coverage by Chinese media outlets, including the Beijing News (Xin jing bao), the forum has commenced discussions on global economic development under the overarching theme of "Innovation Scale." The high-profile event has convened over 1,700 senior dignitaries and business leaders hailing from more than 90 countries and regions.

As anticipated, Premier Li Qiang made an appearance at the opening ceremony to deliver a special address. South Korea was represented by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who also delivered a special speech before engaging in a series of high-level bilateral meetings with Premier Li and other international leaders.

Through this carefully curated forum, Beijing intends to underscore its active cooperation toward global openness, a topic that has emerged as a pressing international talking point. Backed by its surging confidence as a full-fledged Artificial Intelligence (AI) superpower, China is certain to champion a multilateral order under its own stewardship while seeking mutual economic prosperity. This strategy is clearly reflected in the consensus among most state-run media outlets, which projected that the forum will anchor its discussions around uniquely Chinese agendas—such as industrial transformation, innovation ecosystems, and the Belt and Road Initiative—thereby forcing the global community to recognize and adapt to China's trajectory.

It is within this identical context that corporate titans, including Robin Zeng (Zeng Yuqun), the founder and chairman of global battery juggernaut CATL, have been appointed as co-chairs of the forum. Naturally, cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, and the green transition are taking center stage as core agenda items.

Beyond the current Summer Davos, China has also been hosting the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan Province every year since 2001, with this year's iteration concluding to great acclaim in late March. While originally conceived as a benchmark of the Swiss Davos Forum, the Boao Forum has now eclipsed its predecessor in fame, and it would not be an understatement to say that its global influence now comfortably surpasses that of Davos.

When factoring in the numerous high-stakes gatherings held annually—such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which bridges Asia, Europe, and Africa—it is safe to describe China as a nation where the diplomatic sun literally rises and sets on international conferences and forums. There is a clear reason why state-run mouthpieces like the People's Daily (Renmin Ribao) publish highly exhaustive and lengthy schedules of the year's international events every January. It also explains why the upcoming APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit, scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province this November for the first time in 20 years, is struggling to garner exceptional national attention despite its grand scale.

                                                                                                         Hong Soon-do