With less than 1 per cent of China's land and 5.8 per cent of its population, the Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang) accounted for close to 20 per cent of China's GDP, 22 per cent of taxation and 35 per cent of imports and exports in 2005.

At the same time, there are concerns over whether the delta can sustain economic development at the same pace it has shown during the last two decades. Economic growth aside, there are concerns about the environment and the social development of the delta region.

In view of delta's strategic significance to the region and China, China Daily, together with the Ningbo municipal government, will jointly organize the China Daily CEO Roundtable International Summit on Yangtze River Delta Development from June 7-9, 2006 in Ningbo.

The summit aims to invite around a hundred CEOs and senior executives of Fortune 500 companies for a face-to-face dialogue with the region's mayors and leaders on strategic issues, challenges and opportunities that are emerging in the region.

"The summit has received top level support from both the central and local governments, as well as the global business community," said Zhu Ling, Editor-in-Chief, China Daily.

(Editor's note: please log on to our website for details of the summit or email Alexander Wan, Executive Editor, China Daily CEO Roundtable at alexwan@chinadaily.com.cn for details on how to get invitation)