The World Economic Forum has become synonymous with Davos, the Swiss Alpine town.——Every January, the forum holds its annual meeting in Davos.

However, every June, the forum also hosts another major event in China called the "Summer Davos."

New Champions Annual Meeting(Summer Davos)) Bringing together global leaders, innovators, and change-makers to tackle pressing economic challenges and explore new frontiers of sustainable and inclusive growth.

Since2007Since then, the Summer Davos held in China has truly become a global event, bringing together the next generation of "New Champions"—high-growth companies that are shaping the future of business and society.

Here are six key takeaways about the Summer Davos.

"The Summer Davos" is held annually in China.Image source:World Economic Forum

1. The differences between Davos and Summer Davos

The Davos meeting in Switzerland and China's Summer Davos serve different purposes, yet they complement each other.

The annual meeting held in the town of Davos focused on the coming year, bringing together leaders from government, business, and civil society to address broader geopolitical and economic issues.

In contrast, the New Champions Annual Meeting held in China focuses on the next decade ahead, placing particular emphasis on emerging economies, innovation, technology leaders, and the next generation of businesses.

The Summer Davos places particular emphasis on the future of business, technological advancements, and unlocking opportunities in emerging markets, while placing strong focus on Asia’s rapidly evolving economic landscape.

2. A Brief History of the Summer Davos

The starting point in Davos is1971The annual European Management Seminar, followed by1987The organization was renamed the World Economic Forum.

Twenty years later, which is2007This year, the Forum launched the New Champions Annual Meeting in collaboration with the People's Republic of China, and since its inaugural edition, it has received strong support from China.

Initially aimed at emerging economies and future-oriented businesses, this initiative has now evolved into a global platform for economic dialogue.

The meeting aims to highlight “New Leaders"– companies that boast innovative business models and technologies driving sustainable growth."

The inaugural conference held in Dalian established a framework that brought together diverse stakeholders to collaboratively address shared economic challenges through tailored solutions.

Nowadays,2025Held annually in the year16The upcoming session will reinforce the forum's commitment to fostering international cooperation and addressing complex global challenges.

The Annual New Leaders' Meeting brings together more than 1,500 global leaders.Image source: World Economic Forum

3. The Core Issues of the Summer Davos

The Annual New Champions Meeting continues to focus on forward-looking topics critical to global economic development.

2024The annual conference will be held under the theme of “The New Frontier of Future Growth"Focused on six key themes: the global new economy, China and the world, entrepreneurial spirit in the age of artificial intelligence, emerging frontiers in industry, investing in people, and the interconnectedness of climate, nature, and energy."

2025This year's topics include: Decoding the Global Economy, China's Economic Outlook, Disruptive Industries, Investing in People and the Planet, and New Energy Sources & Materials.

Past conferences have covered "Driving Growth Through Sustainable Development"2010years) and other topics, highlighting the forum's longstanding commitment to responsible economic development.

The rapid advancement of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), has consistently been the focus of the conference, highlighting its transformative potential for both production and society, as well as the necessity of effective governance.

4. Why is the Summer Davos held in two different cities?

The Summer Davos is held annually in rotation between the cities of Dalian and Tianjin. This rotating schedule ensures that various regions across China can benefit from hosting the event, while also highlighting different facets of China's economic development.

Dalian, a key port city in northeastern China, offers insights into international trade and maritime business. Meanwhile, Tianjin, one of China’s largest cities, highlights urban development and industrial innovation.

The First Summer DavosAt2007Year9The event was held in Dalian. Since then, Dalian has attracted more global companies, including Intel.500Investment in strong companies and growth-oriented firms.

2025The annual conference will be held on6Month24From day to day26Located in Tianjin140Square meters ofNational Exhibition and Convention Center (NCEC)Held.

This alternating arrangement also reflects the collaborative relationship between the World Economic Forum and Chinese government authorities at various levels in supporting global economic dialogue.

5. What is the New Leaders Community?

Of the forumNew LeadersThe community is a group comprised of individuals from over44Of a country100A network of multiple task-driven mid-sized enterprises that share insights and lessons learned, while strategically leveraging them.AITo unlock growth potential.

The community began with2006Global Growth Company of the YearGGC) Community. Global growth companies are firms that have already achieved success in their home and regional markets and are now poised to become global industry leaders.

At2007The inaugural Summer Davos of the yearUp, there is125A global growth company has become a founding member of the community, among which40%It is an Asian enterprise.

Today, "New Leaders" companies are selected based on specific criteria—typically generating revenues as high as20Billions of dollars, championing innovative business models and technologies, dedicated to creating positive social impact—and aligned with the mission and values of the World Economic Forum.

Members can gain valuable networking opportunities, access to information resources, and a platform for collaborating with other forward-thinking companies.

The New Champions come from diverse industries and regions, united by their commitment to building resilience in businesses, industries, and communities—while driving sustainable economic growth through innovation.