Fortune magazine Managing Editor Andy Serwer found Chengdu "a dynamic magnet for multinational companies", but the capital of Sichuan province has also had a strong pull on foreign political leaders recently.

In the past three years, five political or opinion leaders have visited Chengdu. It was the last stop on US first lady Michelle Obama's recent seven-day trip to China.

She spent two days in Chengdu, where she gave a talk at the No 7 High School on the importance of education. She also visited the Giant Panda Research Center.