The China Development Forum was founded in 2000 by the Development Research Center (DRC) of China’s State Council (the Cabinet). The objective of the Forum is to serve as a platform where the international business and academic community can interact face-to-face with China’s top decision makers, economic planners and leading academics on crucial development priorities in China’s context. As part of its established practice since its inception, the Forum holds its annual meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing in the second half of March each year, shortly after China’s National People’s Congress (the country’s parliament) finishes its annual session. International participants to the Forum include top executives from major multinationals, senior officials from international organizations, and internationally prestigious scholars. At each annual meeting, a vice premier of the Chinese government and other senior government officials give speeches and presentations, and the Premier in person meets with international representatives and solicits their views and advice on the sideline of the Forum.