This is in sharp contrast with the slowdown of the world economy. China will keep a sound, steady and sustained economic growth in the new century, Jiang noted. In their three days of discussions, leaders of multinational companies attending the Fortune Globe Forum in Hong Kong have shown great interest in the thriving Chinese market. These business heavyweights were optimistic about China's economy, which has kept a strong growth momentum and provided plenty of business opportunities for international investors against the backdrop of a world economic slowdown. One of the foreign investors' focuses is China's fast-developing telecom market.
Statistics show that the market is now already the world's second largest.
With full confidence in China's IT industry, participants held that the on-going economic slowdown in Europe and North America will not have great impact on the Chinese market because of its size and vitality. Therefore, they suggested that the best way to avoid risks and guarantee profits in the next 10 to 20 years is to transfer capital and technology to the Chinese market. Jorma Ollila, President and CEO of Nokia Corporation, told his audience that Nokia attaches great importance to its growing China market. James C. Morgan, President and CEO of the U.S. Applied Materials, predicted an increased demand for semi-conduct materials and a larger share of the Chinese market for his company. He said, as more and more of its customers are moving from Japan, the United States and other regions to China, Applied Materials will surely have a larger market in China.