Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli speaks before the Second Understanding China Conference attendees. (Photo : xinhuanet.com)
The Second Understanding of China Conference where the development of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan and its role in global governance will be discussed kicked off on Sunday, Nov. 1.
The conference, which is attended by over 40 former heads of state, business leaders and global strategists, is held at the Yanqi Late International Conference Center in the suburbs of Beijing.
Particular topics such as the government's opening-up strategy in a new era, the fostering of China-U.S. relations, and the country's measure in ensuring peaceful development will also be discussed.
The Understanding China Conference aims to deepen the knowledge of other nations about the country.
According to Wu Jianming, the executive vice chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, the name of the conference itself shows that there is still misperception by the outside world about China's emergence in the global arena.
In a bid to enhance this understanding, China has held various international conferences including last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings and the upcoming G20 Summit.
For HRH Turki bin Abdullah al Salud, former governor of the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh and a participant of the conference, "transformation" is a key aspect in imparting the China story.
"China's transformation is a great example for the world. We're a world of humans and we need to evolve, and that's what China did," he remarked.
The Understanding China Conference will conclude on Tuesday. Nov 3.
The China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, the Beijing Municipal People's Government, the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, and the 21st Century Council (Berggruen Institute) co-hosted the event.
The first edition of the gathering was held in November 2013.
