AEI World Forum facts for kids
The AEI World Forum is a special yearly meeting. Important people like business leaders, government officials, and thinkers come together. It happens every spring in Sea Island, Georgia. The meeting is supported by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Vail Valley Foundation. Many experts from AEI also attend and share their ideas.
History of the World Forum
The AEI World Forum started because of former U.S. President Gerald Ford. In 1976, President Ford hosted a big meeting called the G7 summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There, he became good friends with leaders from other countries. These included the prime minister of Britain, the president of France, and the chancellor of Germany.
After his time as president, Ford joined the American Enterprise Institute. In 1982, he and his wife, Betty Ford, hosted the very first AEI World Forum. It was held near their home in Beaver Creek. President Ford wanted world leaders to have a private place to talk about important issues. He hoped they could share ideas and discuss big public policy topics.
President Ford continued to host the World Forum every year until he passed away in 2006. In 2007, at the twenty-sixth World Forum, Vice President Richard Cheney honored Ford. He officially opened Gerald R. Ford Hall. This hall is inside the Beaver Creek Park Hyatt Hotel, where the Forum's meetings take place.
How the World Forum Works
The AEI World Forum is a private event. What is discussed there is kept "off the record." This means that the conversations are not officially reported to the public. The Forum includes several types of sessions. There are large group discussions and smaller group talks about specific topics. People also have time for informal chats and fun activities.
The Vail Valley Foundation, one of the sponsors, explains what happens. Important U.S. government officials share honest updates on new policies. Leaders of major international companies talk about business and money matters. Government officials from Europe, Asia, and the Americas discuss global plans and economic issues. They do this in a private, relaxed setting, away from their daily busy lives.
Because journalists cannot officially report on the discussions, some people say the event is "secretive." However, this does not stop journalists from finding out what topics are being discussed. They can also speak at the events themselves, though their words are also off the record.
The Forum often attracts politicians who have similar political views. For example, members of the first Trump administration and government ministers from the UK Conservative party have attended. It has also been reported that discussions at the Forum helped shape ideas before the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries.
