As the Hangzhou G20 Summit gets ready to start, participants from across China and from overseas have been pouring into in the city, from the beginning of September and bringing new ideas and expectations. 

This year the organizers are expecting 812 representatives from 32 countries and regions and 26 international organizations, as well as 142 from the global Top-500 and 103 from China’s Top 500.

Smooth registration

Guests register at the Registering Center. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The registration process is quick, thanks to the volunteers on hand to help the guests get through it in no more than 5 minutes.

The guests are given a black handbag with Hangzhou gifts and surprises, including a Wangxingji fan, a Deli pencil bag, a Wensli silk scarf and a refrigerator magnet emblazoned with the city’s renowned scenic spot, the “Three Pools Mirroring the Moon”.

The handbag itself is notable gift from Hedren, the former Belgium suitcase brand which was acquired by a Hangzhou company so it is now a completely “Zhejiang” brand. 

Giving Hangzhou the thumbs up

When asked about the host city, many guests have been full of praise.

One of them is the University of Toronto’s G20 research project co-director, in Canada, John Kirton, who has taken part in the G0 Summit 10 times. Kirton is also a senior researcher with Renmin University and this time is bringing his latest book -- G20 China: The Hangzhou Summit.

This is his second visit to Hangzhou and he explains, “I still remember three years ago, when I came here during a break in a meeting in Shanghai, and was so charmed by the scenery of West Lake, the Leifeng Pagoda, and the city’s rich culture.”

Another G20 researcher from the University of Toronto, Courtney Hallink, who is here on her first trip, says that she prefers to use the word “placid” to describe Hangzhou and that, “Hangzhou people are genial and I love the city.”

Echoing those sentiments is Jack Ma, the executive chairman of the Alibaba Group, who has a special interest in the city, after all it’s his hometown and, he says, “I hope more people can get to know Hangzhou now that it’s hosting the summit.” 

Volunteer helps a guest at the registration center. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Advices for G20

Some of the participants say they’ve done their “homework” and are itching for a chance to share their ideas at the summit, where the focus this year is on “innovating growth methods”, “more efficient global economic and financial governance”, “strong international trade and investment” and “integrated and interactive development”.

Dannel Stuart, the general manager of the US management consulting firm-A.T. Kearney ‘s Greater China region, says he is concerned about ways to reducethe gap between the rich and the comparatively not-so-rich so that everyone can enjoy equal employment chances. 

He seems to hope he can find some answers here at the summit. “Topics involving the youth unemployment rate and women’s role in employment are among my concerns and these can all stimulate entrepreneurship and this is an important part of this G20”, he says.

Chris De Noose, managing director of the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute, says, “I hope the summit can help advance cooperation among banks around the world. We can learn the financial industry’s trend through the summit to prepare for the follow-up work.”