BEIJING/KUNMING, CHINA – Organized by the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) and hosted by World Trade Center Kunming (WTC Kunming), WTCA held its first annual conference and second management training program in Chinese-speaking region in Kunming, China from June 4 to 7, 2014. The event attracted more than 50 WTC delegates from 19 World Trade Centers from Chinese-speaking region and beyond. Mr. Eric Dahl, CEO of WTCA, and Mr. Zhenyu Sun, Chairman of China Society for World Trade Organization Studies, former Vice Minister of Commerce of China, China’s first ambassador to World Trade Organization, attended the event.

Mr. Scott Wang, VP Asia Pacific, WTCA reported the Association’s and BRO’s work in the past year and plans in the coming year. WTCA, ClubCorp and WTC Kunming presented a pilot WTC Business Club program and case study. During small group discussion session, delegates made valuable inputs of wide-range topics on how to improve WTCA services, network building and WTC operation. Featured WTCs shared their best practice. The conference/training was followed by participation in “China - South Asia Expo” (CSAE) – a major trade expo took place June 6-10 where a WTCA pavilion was established to showcase WTC brand & global network. The WTCA also co-hosted 2014 Exposition Dialogue on Services Trade and International Cooperation during CASE. Mr. Zhenyu Sun delivered a keynote speech at the Dialogue, along with Mr. Li Wenrong, Mayor of Kunming city and other government and business leaders.

Participating WTCs included: WTC Anyang, WTC Beijing, WTC Changzhou, WTC Chengdu, China WTC, WTC Chongqing, WTC Dandong, WTC Fuzhou, WTC Jiaxing, WTC Kunming, WTC Nanjing, WTC Suzhou, WTC Quanzhou, WTC Taipei, WTC Tianjin, WTC Xuzhou, WTC Yancheng, and WTC Zhengzhou. WTC Bangalore was invited to attend the CSAE events. ClubCorp, Yunnan International Expositions Bureau and other government departments also participated.

For more information on this article, please contact Adele Zhang, Program Manager, WTCA Beijing Rep Office, at azhang@wtca.org.