China premier said to be planning Davos trip to assuage concern over slowing economy

Hong Kong

CHINA is planning to send its highest-level delegation to the annual Alpine confabulation of business, social and political leaders in Davos since the global recession of 2009.

With its growth slowing and foreign business groups criticising China for discrimination against non-Chinese companies, the gathering in Switzerland offers a platform to reassure international decision-makers that the world's second largest economy is still open for business.

China's contingent will be led by Premier Li Keqiang, according to people with knowledge of the planning, who asked not to be named as the trip has not been made public. Former premier Wen Jiabao went in 2009, weeks after unveiling a US$586 billion stimulus to support what wa…