The 2003 Forbes Global CEO Conference wrapped up yesterday, laying a solid foundation for luring additional foreign investment to the city, said local government officials.

Hosting the forum marks the creation of closer links between Shanghai and the world's entrepreneurs, said Yang Guoqiang, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai municipal government.

"Foreign entrepreneurs and business leaders have taken advantage of the meeting to share the fruit of China's 20 years of opening up to the outside world," he said.

"That will pave the way for bringing more big foreign investment projects to the city."

Yang also noted the municipal government is confident of turning the city into a conference center in the Asia-Pacific region by taking advantage of the positive impact of the conference.

The forum brought together more than 400 chief executive officers and entrepreneurs from both home and aboard to discuss the increasingly pivotal role China is playing in the global economy and geopolitics.

"We are extremely pleased to see so many senior executives and business leaders gather at the 2003 Forbes Global CEO Conference," said Steve Forbes, chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of Forbes.

"Three days is a short time, but the outcome of the exchange of ideas and opinions is truly significant," said the two-time US presiden-tial candidate.

"We sincerely wish this convention of entrepreneurs will help increase business and investment between China and the global economy," the Forbes CEO added.

(eastday.com September 19, 2003)