What is 'Summer Davos'? 6 things to know about the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in China

Published May 16, 2025 · Updated Jun 3, 2025

Known as 'Summer Davos' or 'AMNC', the meeting takes place in the summer months and has a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto

World Economic Forum

This article is part of: Annual Meeting of the New Champions

The Annual Meeting of the New Champions takes place every year in China.
Known as 'Summer Davos' or 'AMNC', the meeting takes place in the summer months and has a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
The meeting alternates between the Chinese cities of Tianjin and Dalian and is closely connected to their economic growth.

The World Economic Forum has become synonymous with the town of Davos in the Swiss Alps - where it holds its Annual Meeting every January.

But there's another event held by the Forum in China each June, that is known as 'Summer Davos'.

The Annual Meeting of the New Champions - or AMNC - brings together global leaders, innovators and changemakers to address pressing economic challenges, while exploring new frontiers for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Since it began in 2007, Summer Davos has established itself as a truly global event in China, convening the next generation of 'new champions' - or fast-growing enterprises that are shaping the future of business and society.

Here are six things to know about Summer Davos.

'Summer Davos' takes place in China every year. Image: World Economic Forum

1. The difference between Davos and Summer Davos

The original Davos meeting in Switzerland and Summer Davos in China serve distinct yet complementary purposes.

The Annual Meeting in Davos focuses on the year ahead, bringing together leaders across government, business, and civil society, focusing on broader geopolitical and economic issues.

In contrast, the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in China looks further ahead - over a 10-year timeline - and specifically highlights emerging economies, innovation, technology pioneers and next-generation enterprises.

Summer Davos places particular emphasis on the future of business, tech advancement, and creating opportunities in developing markets, with a strong focus on Asia's rapidly evolving economic landscape.

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2. A potted history of Summer Davos

While Davos itself began life as the European Management Symposium in 1971, it became the World Economic Forum in 1987.

Two decades later, the Annual Meeting of the New Champions was established in 2007 through a collaboration between the Forum and the People's Republic of China, with strong support of the Chinese Premier from the outset.

What began as an initiative to spotlight emerging economies and future-oriented businesses has grown into a global platform for economic dialogue.

The meeting was designed to highlight 'New Champions' – companies with innovative business models and technologies that drive sustainable growth.

The inaugural meeting, in Dalian, established a framework for bringing together diverse stakeholders to address shared economic challenges through collaborative solutions.

Now in its 16th iteration, the 2025 meeting reinforces the Forum's commitment to fostering international cooperation and addressing complex global issues.

AMNC brings together more than 1,500 global leaders. Image: World Economic Forum

3. A timeline of achievements from Summer Davos

2006 - The World Economic Forum establishes an office in Beijing in June and invites coastal cities to bid to host the 'World Economic Forum Global Industry Summit and Annual Meeting of Global Growth Companies'.
2007 - The inaugural Summer Davos is held in Dalian in September, attended by more than 1,700 business, government and civil society leaders, representing 90 nations.
2007 - September 8 sees the groundbreaking ceremony of Intel's Dalian chip factory, with an investment of $2.5 billion. Chinese media hails this and other international investments in Dalian 'the Davos effect'.
2008 - Just weeks after Beijing hosts the Olympic Games and days after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the second AMNC takes place in Tianjin under the theme 'The Next Wave of Growth'.
2008 - Airbus invests in Tianjin to build its first final assembly line outside Europe - with its inauguration in September. A joint venture between Airbus and the Tianjin Free Trade Zone (TJFTZ) and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) was extended in March 2014 until 2025.
2010 - Host of AMNC again, Tianjin's industrial growth rate reaches 24.8% in July, the highest in China, dubbed 'Tianjin Speed'.
2010 - ORIX Group announces it will set up a headquarters in Dalian, with a signing ceremony in Beijing with the Dalian Municipal Government. It follows a breakthrough meeting at Summer Davos in 2009, People's Daily reports.
2011 - At AMNC in September, Citibank announces its return to Dalian after an 84-year absence. Mayor Xia Deren hails it a "major event for the development of Dalian's financial industry".
2013 - At AMNC in Dalian, the Forum welcomes new Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for his Summer Davos debut. “We live in a global village,” Li told participants. “No country can live in isolation of others like Robinson Crusoe.”
2014 - In Tianjin, then-Premier Li introduces the 'Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation' initiative, with policy reforms and financial support designed to build a favorable environment for startups and small businesses across the country.

4. Core topics addressed at Summer Davos

The Annual Meeting of the New Champions consistently addresses forward-looking themes crucial to global economic development.

The 2024 meeting, themed 'Next Frontiers for Growth', focused on six major topics: A New Global Economy; China and the World; Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI; New Frontiers for Industries; Investing in People; and Connecting Climate, Nature and Energy.

In 2025, the topics are: Deciphering the World Economy; Outlook on China; Industries Disrupted; Investing in People and Planet; New Energy and Materials.

Past meetings have covered themes such as 'Driving Growth through Sustainability' (2010), highlighting the Forum's long-standing focus on responsible economic advancement.

The rapid advancement of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), has been a recurring focus, emphasizing their transformative potential for production and society - as well as the need for governance.

5. Why is Summer Davos held in two different cities?

After the initial bidding process resulted in the selection of Dalian, Summer Davos is now a tale of two cities: Dalian and Tianjin - and it alternates between them each year.

This rotation allows different regions within China to benefit from hosting the event, while showcasing different aspects of China's economic development.

Dalian, a major port city in northeastern China, offers insights into international trade and maritime commerce, while Tianjin, one of China's largest cities, highlights urban development and industrial innovation.

The first AMNC was held in Dalian in September 2007 and the city has subsequently attracted more Fortune 500 companies and growth companies to invest in Dalian, including Intel.

The 2025 meeting is being held in Tianjin from June 24-26 at the 1.4 million metre-square National Convention and Exhibition Centre (NCEC).

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

6. What is the New Champions community?

The Forum’s New Champions community is a network of more than 100 mid-sized, mission-driven businesses from over 44 countries who share insights and lessons – and strategically use AI to unlock growth potential.

It began in 2006 as the Community of Global Growth Companies (GGC), enterprises that had already made a mark in their national and regional markets, and were poised to become global industry leaders.

At the inaugural AMNC in 2007, 125 Global Growth Companies, 40% of which were Asian businesses, were welcomed as founding members of the community.

Today, these companies, known as the New Champions, are selected based on specific criteria: they typically generate up to $2 billion in revenue, champion innovative business models and technologies, strive to deliver positive societal impact, and align with the World Economic Forum's mission and values.

Members gain access to valuable networking opportunities, intelligence resources, and platforms to collaborate with other forward-thinking organizations.

The New Champions represent a diverse array of sectors and regions, united by their commitment to building resilience into their businesses, industries, and communities while driving sustainable economic growth through innovation.