The Forbes Global CEO Conference, a high-profile business forum initiated by the US publishing and media company Forbes, is to take place in Shanghai in September as scheduled, according to organizers.

As an indication that growth in China is returning to previous levels after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis the upcoming event is expected to help create a wealth of business opportunities for both domestic and overseas companies and entrepreneurs, reports the China Daily on Monday.

As well as the attendance of high-level government officials plus eminent economists and scholars, executives of multinationals and domestic business giants like BMW, UPS, Samsung, Dow Corning, Acer, HSBC, Haier and Shimao will also address the conference.

Together with other respected figures in business circles, the delegates are expected to embark on a number of topics facing the global and Chinese economies, ranging from banks and the capital markets in China to future technology trends worldwide.

"The purpose of the event is not just to exchange information," said Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes. "The brainstorming is to be an incubator for new business opportunities and new jobs for Shanghai, China and the world.

The conference would dramatically demonstrate to the global business community that Shanghai and China were indeed ready to do business again after the SARS crisis, said Forbes.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2003)