Chinese and overseas outsourcing experts last month gathered in Nanjing, the capital city of East China's Jiangsu province and also a leading outsourcing center, to pave the way for future partnerships.

The current global financial crisis is an opportunity for more cooperation, said participants at the third Global Outsourcing Summit.

"Outsourcing is a gateway leading to a new economy," said former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who is now global president of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association.

Villepin said developing countries have unprecedented opportunities for outsourcing in a new economy with technology and knowledge as its core.

"We should be committed to improving operating efficiencies through strengthening dialogue in order to create a shared, bright future for all of us," Villepin said.

Government-level policies that support the growth of outsourcing services will be critical to growing the industry, he said.

"The (Chinese) government's strategy is crucial, since outsourcing is dependent on a sound infrastructure and education environment," Villepin said.

Villepin said that China's outsourcing industry will develop into one of the country's economic pillars.

Uma Ganesh, president of Global Talent Track, discussed the importance of cultivating outsourcing talent in emerging industries in countries such as China.

The summit also created a forum for multinational outsourcing companies to share their ideas on politics, economics and culture.

The summit attracted more than 150 government leaders at local, state and national levels from around the world, as well as presidents and executives of Fortune 500, Global 2000 and Top 100 outsourcing companies.

Attendees included:

Zhang Weiguo, vice governor of Jiangsu province

Ji Jianye, Nanjing acting mayor

Mike Oquaye, speaker of the Parliament in Ghana

Christine Quesnot, chief of staff for the former French president

D.E.W. Gunasekara, minister of Sri Lanka

Philip Sang'ka Marmo, minister of Tanzania

Tangata Vavia, minister of the Cook Islands

Kakooza James, minister of Uganda;

Cameron Priebe, mayor of Taylor, Michigan, in the United States

Pete Chavez, mayor of Reedley, California, in the United States

Petros Ngubane, mayor of Umvoti in South Africa

(China Daily 10/26/2009 page8)