China Development Forum

China Development Forum (CDF) (Chinese: 中国发展高层论坛 ) is a high level and annual international forum initiated in 2000 by China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) of the Republic of China's State Council. Initially conceived by former Premier Zhu Rongji.

The forum aims to strengthen communication at high level between China and the world.

History
Founded in 2000, the forum is sponsored by the Development Research Center (CDRF), a national, public and non-profit institution directly under the General Office of the State Council's Republic of China.

At its inception, the forum was a relatively intimate meeting between Chinese leaders and foreign experts. Premier Zhu Rongji initially conceived the idea of the China Development Forum, which he viewed as a stress test for leading officials, and encouraged policy debate and discussion with the foreign experts in attendance. It's scope grew significantly thereafter.

The 1st China Development Forum (CDF) titled "China's 2010 Goals, Policy and Perspective" was opened by Wen Jiabao, Vice Premier of the State Council's Republic of China at the time and noted on his assured confidence in the importance of CDF to China's development.

At the March 2015 China Development Forum in 2015, OECD secretary-general Angel Gurría commented that China's GDP growth will become increasingly reliant on domestic consumption, sustainable resource use, and rising productivity, which in turn will require a new normal for urbanization.

The 20th forum was held from March 23 to 25, 2019 with Vice Premier Han Zheng of the State Council's Republic of China who attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual event in 2021 was held in a mix format, virtually and on-site, with its location at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse underlining the major importance of this forum in China's development thinking.

In 2023, Premier Li Qiang sought to build foreign investment confidence at the forum, tending executives that "China would open its door wider and wider." Commerce Minister Wang Wentao described foreign companies as "not guests, but family."

Mission
It is a platform for dialogue between the Chinese government and multinational corporations, leaders of international organizations and well-known scholars, aiming to strengthen communication between China and the world.

Since 2000, the scale of the event has changed and increased to include more senior academic heavyweight at the annual event, academic publications, cooperation with OECD, and, occasionally, special event with major figure such as the visit by Henry Kissinger in 2023 who was then aged 100 years old.

In depth key take-ways from China Development Forum 2023 include: a 1% increase in China's GDP growth leading to 0.3% growth in other Asian economies. In order to maintain integrity, stability, and the security of global industrial and supply chains, China wants to deepen cooperation to become the "world factory".

Format
The China Development Forum occurs annually after the National People's Congress meets in March.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum occurred virtually.