Ge Honglin, mayor of Chengdu and Fortune managing editor, Andy Serwer

Fortune Magazine managing editor, Andy Serwer, and the mayor of Chengdu, Ge Honglin attended a press conference in Chengdu on April 10 to announce that the capital city of Sichuan province will host the Fortune Global Forum (FGF) in 2013.

Claudia Spahl, consul general of the Consulate General in Chengdu, Wang Zhile, a researcher from the Institute of China's Ministry of Commerce, and Wang Xiaodong, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Southwest China, were invited as guests.

Andy Serwer said Chengdu is the best city for the FGF, since it offers advantages of a sound infrastructure, a special local culture, as well as a positive government attitude.

Early in 2011, Andy Serwer felt attracted to Chengdu when he visited the city for the first time.

Ge Honglin said Chengdu was chosen by Fortune for significant reasons.

Thanks to a nationwide Go-West strategy, the local economy has developed rapidly in recent years.

Sichuan recovered quickly after the Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008. The city has also reduced the income gap between urban and suburban areas.

Chengdu achieved remarkable success after the global financial crisis, which captured the attention of Fortune Magazine.

"I believe the 2013 FGF will help Chinese companies go global, it would be a turning point for them," said Wang Zhile.

"There are only 14 months to go, and we have lots of work to do," Andy Serwer said. The Fortune Global Forum is scheduled to be held in Chengdu on June 6 to 8, 2013. He described this project as a "real adventure."