President Hu Jintao will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming 2005 Fortune Global Forum in Beijing, its organizers announced on Tuesday.

"The forum is shaping up to be the biggest event in China this year. President Hu's participation shows that the Fortune Global Forum enjoys China's support at the highest level," said Rik Kirkland, managing editor of Fortune magazine.

Qian Xiaoqian, vice minister of the State Council Information Office (SCIO), told the press that more than 200 Chinese government ministers, leading scholars and top entrepreneurs will attend the international event, which is scheduled for May 16 to 18.

More than 300 participants from abroad will also be present, including business leaders from international corporations such as HSBC, General Motors, Samsung, Qualcomm, Disney, e-Bay and Infosys.

SCIO is collaborating with Fortune to hold the forum this year.

This year's event has the theme, "China and the New Asian Century." It will go beyond economic numbers and take a balanced look at the deeper story behind China's economic development.

The 2005 Fortune Global Forum will be the ninth of its kind and the third held in China, with Shanghai and Hong Kong having been hosts in 1999 and 2001 respectively.

(China Daily March 2, 2005)