Why do international conferences like to gather in China?

On February 13th, 211, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China jointly issued the Notice on Strictly Controlling the Holding of International Conferences in China. The notice requires that the total number of international conferences held in China should be strictly controlled; No international conference with the same or similar theme may be held at the same time or in a short time; Strictly control the scale of the meeting; It is not allowed to promise to provide any free services to the outside world without authorization ... The provisions of the Notice on international conferences in China are almost comprehensive, and each clause touches on the acne of current international conferences in China.

why should we "strictly control" the holding of international conferences in China? What has become of the international conferences that once symbolized that all parts of China are striding towards internationalization in China? Some people in the exhibition industry said: Just as China people can stir up the world's housing prices, after many international conferences come to China, the specifications and prices will rise. Besides, many international conferences held in China have their own mysteries and mysteries.

"Go to China for a meeting"

"I'm on my way to China for a meeting instead of China." This slogan of China netizens' "obligation" tailored for foreign dignitaries and businessmen is bound to be more vivid and vivid in the face of a paper notice jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on "strictly controlling the holding of international conferences in China". This paper notice also caused the Englishman Angus? Wedge's attention.

Angus has been invited by international conferences, big and small, since he became a reporter for a famous British media in China.

At first, Angus thought that attending these meetings was "not only a waste of time, but also a violation of journalists' professional norms"-the organizers of the meetings will help you arrange everything from air tickets to accommodation. Although the meetings are often boring, the lunch is very rich, the afternoon tour is even more intimate, and finally you will receive "unexpected surprises" in the envelope. But after a long time, Angus decided to choose one or two out of every 1 invitations. In fact, Angus's troubles are also a compulsory course for almost every overseas journalist in China.

For a long time, in addition to formal international conferences at the national level, it seems that cities all over the world are also addicted to international conferences. Most of the meetings are sponsored directly or indirectly by local governments, and paid by the finance. According to statistics, from 2 to 29, the number of international conferences hosted by China increased from 83 to 245 per year. Zhou Haowen, director of the Malaysian Star Beijing Branch, told reporters that during his four years in Beijing, he has participated in more than 2 international conferences, and as for the invitations he has received, there are countless.

of course, it takes two hands to make a sound. China people love meetings, and many foreign celebrities and politicians are really happy to come to China to attend.

"With the increasing economic strength of China, China's influence in the world is not what it used to be. Nowadays, the economic and political layout of the eastern and western hemispheres has undergone great changes, and many foreigners are increasingly interested in China. Of course, the starting point of interest is mostly pure economic interests." According to Chen Zeyan, vice president of China Convention and Exhibition Economic Research Association, since China has shown its vitality in participating in the world in various fields, the reason why most foreigners like to come to China for meetings may lie in the discovery of business opportunities, especially in the fields of nuclear power, grain, oil and even light industry. Generally speaking, the more professional the meeting, the more attractive it will be to the participants.

"In fact, pragmatic international conferences such as the corn industry conference, the earthquake conference, the mathematician conference and the biopharmaceutical conference are probably not within the scope of the suspension of the two ministries." In Chen Zeyan's eyes, international conferences can be divided into two categories. One is an international conference initiated by the International Conference Organization (ICCA) and applied by all countries, which is completely market-oriented without occupying financial allocations; The other is an international conference that is completely led by the government, consumes financial allocations, pays high appearance fees to invite foreign experts, and discusses the so-called "economic situation" and other relatively vague topics. Strictly speaking, the latter can't be called an international conference. In China, it has a more appropriate name: an official international conference. This time, the two ministries issued detailed rules to stop, that is, these official international conferences.

"official meeting"

"Since it is an international meeting, you must first have a foreign face and pay for it; There must be a media with great international influence, so please pay for it. Money is not a problem, as long as the face looks good. " In recent years, government-run international conferences have "triumphed" all over the country, with increasing scale, higher grade and more and more amazing ostentation and extravagance.

Although the consumption level is different, the specific cost of each meeting cannot be measured, and the government has not yet announced how much money China spends on international meetings every year, the information revealed from individual international meetings can give us a glimpse. "There are two cities in the north that have been locked in a fight for hosting an international conference. They have already thrown out tens of millions before they have opened, and the real cost of running it can be imagined." In an interview with reporters, Chen Zeyan said frankly that in recent years, there have been voices calling for China to stop international conferences, but it has become more and more chaotic. In the final analysis, it is a matter of interest. At present, the expenditure on international conferences has become a major financial burden for the government.

when keywords such as "the first session", "the largest scale", "the highest specification" and "the largest number of people" frequently appear in the reports of local officials, the metamorphosis from international conferences to government-run conferences is quietly completed.

"In the international exhibition industry, China has basically become synonymous with free." Some insiders told reporters that foreign guests can enjoy the following treatment in many international conferences held in China: first class, five-star accommodation, big meals, high appearance fees, high-standard travel, sightseeing, and so on. A few years ago, the dialogue between Chinese and foreign mayors in a CCTV program also provided a very vivid footnote for "free". At the end of the program, the host invited a foreign mayor to visit China. The mayor said that the budget of that year had been spent and there was no money to come to China. At this time, the mayor of China responded quickly: "No problem, you come and we will solve the cost." In contrast, over the years, almost every pore of many official international conferences in China has been permeated with such heroism of spending a lot of money with deep pockets.

The above-mentioned insiders pointed out that ICCA, which has always been famous for organizing formal international conferences, has also been used to a lot of problems in China. "Davos is a good example. Let's not talk about the value of Davos itself in summer. The key is to double the asking price in China." This statement was corroborated by Wang Nan, a former reporter of the International Department of People's Daily. Wang Nan, who has attended dozens of international conferences in more than a dozen countries, said that conferences like Davos have gone downhill in the west, but when he comes to China, the participation fee is very high. Generally, it costs 3, yuan to buy a participation index. "This has become a form of disguised money."

Do you want political achievements or exhibition market?

In fact, from the market point of view, a conference may become a profitable business, which is why "conference economy" and "conference industry" are in the ascendant in China.

Taking the industry international conference as an example, Chen Zeyan revealed the business opportunities that a conference might achieve: first, private companies put forward the conference ideas and themes from the decision-making level, and sent invitations to experts and enterprises in the industry respectively. Once the demand arises, the participants agree to pay the registration fee, which will form a market; After the decision is made, the professional organizer is responsible for the implementation, sending information, making websites, contacting, receiving, registering and charging services, while the downstream links involve venue layout, equipment, simultaneous interpretation, publicity and post-conference tourism ... In this way, an industrial chain centered on a conference is formed. "Every link can produce benefits, like Geneva, which is the city raised by the conference."

China, on the other hand, belongs to the "city-funded conference". "The first is the state grant, and there is a problem from the source. It doesn't hurt to spend it, and it doesn't matter if there is no income. Officially holding an international conference is equivalent to spending money to buy a happy and lively one. The loss is inconsistent with the value generated by itself, and the performance requirements are higher than the market rules, which is equal to deviation. " Chen Zeyan said.

although there are no specific statistics, it has become an indisputable fact that government-run international conferences bring huge waste. "In 1985, there was one edition of the national document on international conferences, which was made by the leading group for foreign affairs of the Central Committee. In 1995, there were two editions, Strictly Controlling the Holding of International Conferences in China and Reiterating the Strengthening of Foreign Affairs Discipline and Strictly Holding International Conferences in China. Although the topics seem to be very strict, it seems that they have not played much role over the years." Wu Shaoyuan, conference director of China International Science and Technology Conference Center, said that it has been 26 years since he began to organize international conferences in 1985, and he has witnessed with his own eyes how the China International Conference has evolved from rigorous and formal to the present "chaos" step by step over the years. "For so many years, it has been stopped, but just like the real estate regulation in China, six articles today and eight articles tomorrow can play much role? The most fundamental thing is that there is an image project and there is an interest there. "

Wang Nan believes that there should be more international conferences in the true sense, because it will definitely enhance the mutual understanding between China and the world. As for other so-called "international conferences", "we should not only control the number and scale of conferences in form, but also focus on how to improve the content and efficiency of conferences."

Those secrets that have to be told

How did the transformation of an international conference in China be completed, and what hidden rules are hidden behind the so-called "official international conference"? To this end, the reporter has visited some senior international conference organizers and insiders, hoping to get a glimpse of the secrets that have to be told at international conferences in China.

Secret 1: Sandwiches and Gluttonous Meals

"The meeting meal is mainly buffet, and a cold meal banquet can be arranged instead of another welcoming banquet." In the notice jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, catering is listed impressively, and the provisions are extremely detailed. In fact, this rule is aimed at the serious waste in the catering of international conferences in China.

"catering alone accounts for nearly 5% of the total expenditure of a conference." At this point, Wu Shaoyuan, who once went to Australia for a meeting and ate sandwiches for five days, was very emotional. "You are in Beijing, go to any hotel and say that I want to eat sandwiches. Does it make it for you?" According to the reporter's investigation, at present, both the Beijing International Convention Center and the National Convention Center have the minimum starting price of catering consumption in 1 yuan, and the unified distribution of box lunch is as high as that in 8 yuan. Interestingly, any participant is not allowed to bring food outside the center. "I want to eat McDonald's, so you are not allowed to enter." As for the tea drinks during the meeting, "in 2, a cup of tea and coffee was 8 yuan for one person, and then it rose to 1 yuan, and now the minimum is 3 yuan." On the one hand, it is the organizer's unconscious waste, on the other hand, it is the waste caused by the hotel's compulsion. "But you can't rely on the hotel. These are all corporate behaviors. If it wants to repay the principal and interest, it must set the fee very high."

A secret meeting of 2: 1 people, with a budget of 2 million yuan

"If the meeting expenses are fully borne by us or shared by all the participants, the budget should be formulated in accordance with the meeting standards, and the expenses we bear should be included in the departmental budget management." The notice of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stipulates this.

Any international conference cannot be organized without money. A government-run international conference must be held with financial allocation first. According to common sense, the approval of the budget before the meeting is very important. It should be that Ding is Ding, Mao is Mao, and it must not be ambiguous. But the fact is just the opposite-the budget approval of international conferences is often puzzling. Wu Shaoyuan said that he often receives a meeting approval form, and there are more than a hundred people in one * * *, but he asks the government for a budget of nearly 2 million yuan. "One person has 2, yuan, what are you doing?" In Wu Shaoyuan's view, there are too many unreliable budget bills. Basically, those named after "development funds/funds" have a career. For example, this is an international conference, but it is applied to buy a large number of fixed assets, such as buying 1 computers, 1 printers, 2 cameras, and even high-end cars ... "What is the reason for buying so many fixed assets?" "The meeting should leave photos and materials, and besides, we have to hold the second session."

In fact, according to insiders, the budgets that can be called "international conferences" are basically the same. It is not unusual for a small and medium-sized conference with 1 people to apply for a budget of 1 million to 2 million yuan. As long as the word "international" can be put on it, its value can be doubled immediately.

Secret 3: "It's best to have all ministers in the front row"

The notice of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stipulates that "when holding international conferences or foreign activities, all regions shall not compete with each other to raise the specifications of delegates at home and abroad, and shall not compare with each other."

In Wu Shaoyuan's view, for local governments, the benefits of an international conference may be various, but the most important thing lies in the "image project". "What meeting did we hold? It was the first time, with the largest scale and the largest number of people in history ... writing articles to attract people's attention, and this is the biggest benefit." In some international conferences held in secondary cities, there are even some unruly rules, such as "it is best to have all ministers in the front row, or all governors. The bigger the official, the better, and the higher the grade."

Secret 4: Every link may lead to corruption

The notice of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stipulates: "The accommodation level of the conference shall be strictly controlled, and according to international practice, no daily necessities shall be provided, no conference souvenirs shall be distributed, no gifts shall be given, and no public funds shall be organized for sightseeing and visiting."

In the exhibition industry, the existence of conference present is a reasonable phenomenon, and the commemorative significance of gifts should be higher than its monetary significance. However, the fact is that most government-run international conferences only pay attention to the price of gifts. According to informed sources, digital products such as digital cameras, Apple phones and even laptops will be given away as souvenirs at some conferences. "In fact, some people who organize meetings simply want to buy a computer and don't want to spend money, or just please the leaders and simply lend flowers to offer Buddha." As for the meeting, there are more secrets hidden behind it: firstly, it is impossible for most local governments to complete the preparation of an international meeting independently, and they need to entrust private conference organization companies with fees, so the problems will come out of these companies. First, they have many government backgrounds, rely on big trees to make profits, and public funds fall into private pockets. More seriously, they may even involve holding meetings to achieve the purpose of money laundering.

there is another link that is prone to corruption in hotels. First of all, hotels in some cities have their own government background. Although its construction cost is extremely high and it is very difficult to return to the original, the government can enjoy the ultra-low preferential prices of hotels. For example, a guest room with a market price of 1,888 yuan can enjoy preferential treatment in 8 yuan or even lower if the government pretends to do so. However, in the budget application form, the original price of the hotel is still filled in, and whose pocket the price difference finally falls into becomes another mystery ... As for the sponsors' bidding in the conference organization process, it has become a hotbed of corruption.

"You have to pay an appearance fee. Many people think it will be difficult to get it, but in fact, some people are willing to come and earn this money. If you meet those who are sure that China's money is easy to earn, they will really hit it off." This remark