The seventh Global Automotive Forum (GAF2016) is to be held at the Chongqing Yuelai International Convention Centre on June 6-7. The 18th China Chongqing International Auto Industry Fair will be held at the same time. It is the second time the forum is being held in Chongqing.

The forum was founded in 2010 by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Automotive Committee. It aims at discussing the structural changes and challenges in the global auto industry, offering unique insights into technological, economic, societal and trade developments impacting the industry, and promoting productive and outcome-oriented exchange of views among global entrepreneurs, policy makers, experts and the press.

As the world economy shows signs of a slow recovery, the theme for the forum is set as ‘Pivoting to a New Round of Development, China Opportunities: the 13th Five-Year Plan and Made-in-China 2025.’ The forum aims to come up with holistic and strategic thoughts about seizing opportunities of industrial development.

This year, over 800 delegates from 17 countries are expected to be part of GAF2016. More than 75 speakers from China and the rest of the world, including the chairmen and presidents of China’s top automakers, senior global executives and experts and senior officials from China’s important ministries and major cities are also participating at GAF2016.

Some of the speakers and guests include:

- Michael Ableson, VP, Strategy and Global Portfolio Planning, General Motors Company, USA.

- Hubertus Troska, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Greater China, Germany.

- Roland Krueger, President, Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd., USA.

- Kazuyuki Iwata, Chief Engineer, Honda Motor, Japan.

- Chen Zhixin, President of SAIC Motor Corporation, China.

- Li Shufu, Chairman of Geely Group, China.

- Zhu Huarong, President of Changan Motor, China.

- Wang Chuanfu, Chairman of BYD, China.

- Yin Tongyao, President and CEO of Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., China.

- Dr Ralf Cramer, Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG;President and CEO of Continental China, Germany.

- Robert.Pyle, President, Light Vehicle Driveline Technologies at Dana Holding Corporation, USA

- Qi Yumin, Chairman of Brilliance Auto, China.

- Wang Chuanfu, Chairman of BYD, China.

- Gao Xiqing, Former General Manager, China Investment Corporation (CIC); Professor, School of Law, Tsinghua University, China.

There is also confirmed attendance by US, Japan, French, Korea and other overseas delegations.

Along with the major agenda, multiple forms of exchange will take place – business-to-business meetings, business press conferences, government-to-business meetings among a host of activities. There will also be small-scale workshops in the form of interest groups that offer participants an opportunity to express their views and discuss specific issues of relevance to the automotive industry.

Autocar Professional is an official media partner to GAF2016 and will report directly from Chongqing.

To contact Autocar Professional's associate editor Sumantra B Barooah at GAF2016, email sumantra@haymarketsac.com