The small town of Davos is more than just a ski resort. It's home to the World Economic Forum, one of the pioneer events of global economy and business discussion. The event has played a unique role in shaping the global development agenda since its inception in 1971.

DAVID AIKMAN, CHIEF CHINA REPRESENTATIVE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM "The first delegation of Chinese participants came to the annual meeting back in 1979."

That was a time of seismic changes in China, as the central government started to embrace the global economy with its policy of reform and opening up.

JONATHAN WOETZEL, SENIOR PARTNER McKINSEY & COMPANY "The Chinese government rightfully has said it wants to be part of that global conversation and it's very consistent with the tradition and policies of the opening to the outside world and China's own aspiration now to participate more fully as a responsible global stakeholder.

Since then, an increasing number of Chinese policymakers and corporate representatives have been attending the annual meeting in Davos. In 2018, a record of 136 participants from China will be there.

JONATHAN WOETZEL, SENIOR PARTNER McKINSEY & COMPANY "Every year it grows, I think that reflects, first of all, the capacity of China to participate, simply the number of corporations, the global nature of China that is one thing. The other is, of course, the interest the world has, the important that the world ascribes to China's participation, and their interest of having China in the room. Whether it's about sustainability, or finance, if you do not have China in the room, you cannot have the conversation."

And China's president was also in the room last year.

DAVID AIKMAN, CHIEF CHINA REPRESENTATIVE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM "When president Xi was visiting Davos he complimented the World Economic Forum to say that we are the weather vein of the global economy."

This time, China was seen as a powerful advocate deeper global economic inclusiveness.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "It is true that economic globalization has created new problems. But this is no justification to write economic globalization off completely."

JONATHAN WOETZEL, SENIOR PARTNER McKINSEY & COMPANY "Last year when Xi Jinping came to Davos and gave a presentation on China and its Belt and Road Initiative, that was viewed by many people who didn't know China as being a very important and new message."

YANG CHENGXI BEIJING China's economy has been diversifying, innovating. The forum realized that having the annual meeting in Switzerland alone was not enough to bring China's views to the world. That's how the Annual Meeting of The New Champions or the Summer Davos was born in 2007 in China.

DAVID AIKMAN, CHIEF CHINA REPRESENTATIVE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM "So we created the annual meeting of new champions in order to be the world's global meeting on science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We see more and more Chinese companies, whether SOE or private sector going global, going international, and they see the World Economic Forum as a platform to have greater exposure and greater influence."

This annual meeting, held alternatively in Tianjin and Dalian, have over the years been a source of insightful conversations on China's policies, business environment and technology. China becomes an important force in the world for growth and innovation, the country will be an instrumental player in the room for solving global challenges.