A coastal city only an hour's drive from China's capital, Tianjin has long been overshadowed by its giant neighbor Beijing, which has allegedly received the lion's share of favorable policies and range of resources.

Many Tianjiners use that notion to explain their city's sluggish development.

But the situation is changing as the harbor city gains more international and domestic attention. Perhaps Tianjin residents will soon lose their underdog attitude.

The Asia Society selected Tianjin as the host city for the 18th Asian Corporate Conference underway this week because Tianjin is set to be the next growth engine for China.

The Asia Society describes the municipality as "China's next emerging hub and focus of the central government's third wave of economic development after Shenzhen and (Shanghai's) Pudong."

An emerging hub

The city is now examining every approach to seize the opportunity to stand out and attract overseas resources.

Becoming host for the Asia Society's annual meeting came through hard lobbying.

The Asia Society's selection of Tianjin demonstrates the city's rising influence both at home and abroad, said Zhao Xueming, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Tianjin Sub-Council.

The result was due to Tianjin's development potential and the city's sincerity and hard preparation efforts for the conference, Zhao added.

Echoing Zhao's point, Ren Xuefeng, vice-mayor of Tianjin, said yesterday that the city spared no effort in preparation work, organization, logistics and media promotion.

The aggressive attitude of Tianjin ensured the conference went to the city, Asia Society President Vishakha N. Desai said yesterday.

The conference now underway includes renowned economists, government officials from a dozen Asia-Pacific countries and regions, and celebrated entrepreneurs, representatives from multinationals and senior administrators.

About 1,100 high-profile participants are present at the conference, Desai said.

A chance for Tianjin

The conference will be a golden opportunity to make Tianjin better known, Ren stressed.

"Through the platform, we want to make friends, facilitate exchanges and bring in all sorts of resources, both from home and abroad," Ren said.

The conference will also highlight business opportunities arising from Tianjin's transformation into a modern manufacturing and research and development powerhouse, a hub for corporate headquarters, a global shipping and logistics center and an environmentally friendly eco-city, according to Ren.

The Chinese government has given robust support to the development of Tianjin and its Binhai New Area, a key reason so much attention is focused on Tianjin, Ronnie Chan, chairman of Hang Lung Group Ltd, said yesterday.

By holding its annual conference in Tianjin, the Asia Society expects to identify new opportunities and development patterns in China and fuel exchanges and cooperation between China and the Asia-Pacific region.

The theme of the conference - "A New Era for Global Business: Sustainable Growth for China and the World" - is in line with both internationally recognized needs in development and further growth of the Binhai New Area, according to Ren.

"To be sustainable, we must have far vision and set long-term targets. Investing and making efforts in energy efficiency and environmental protection carry great importance for sustainable development," said Cathy Yan, PPG's Asia-Pacific general manager for government affairs and business development.

Sustainable development is a core task for PPG, a global giant in coatings, chemicals and other industrial products, Yan said.

The host city expects solid deals and business opportunities to arise from the conference.

The CCPIT Tianjin Sub-Council will organize exhibition booths to showcase its businesses and provide meeting space for negotiations when needed.

(China Daily 05/29/2008 page21)