China opens its doors to the world by kicking off its first in-person ‘Summer Davos’ since the pandemic

China opens its doors to the world by kicking off its first in-person ‘Summer Davos’ since the pandemic

The Chinese city of Tianjin is buzzing with activity. C-suite executives, government officials, and media members from all over the world have made their way to attend the first in-person World Economic Forum, or WEF, event in China since the pandemic began. The WEF's three-day "Summer Davos" will see over 1,500 participants discuss topics centered around "Entrepreneurship: The driving force of the global economy." The port city of Tianjin, home to 14 million people, welcomed the participants with big billboards on the main highway. Local Chinese residents welcomed "foreigners" to their neighborhoods, and food stalls were in action selling local delicacies including dumplings, noodles, and bao buns. Chinese Premier Li Qiang welcomed the delegates and officially opened the conference on Tuesday. "The world is standing at a historical crossroads," Li said, adding that global challenges are escalating and regional conflicts keep coming up. While Li's speech welcomed the return of in-person meetings, he also said COVID-19 will not be the last public health crisis. Meanwhile, inside the conference center, the handshakes have begun, deals are being struck, and money has started to move around. Saudi Arabia has sent a top delegation to China's Summer Davos this year. According to ,