THE International Council of Shopping Centers Inc, the world's largest trade association of the shopping center industry, said yesterday in Shanghai that it will bring RECON Asia, or the global retail real estate convention of Asia, for the first time to the Chinese mainland this year.

The annual event, attracting leading retailers, developers, investors, planners and architects from around the world, is scheduled to be held at Beijing International Hotel and Convention Center from November 7 to 9, the organizer said.

The RECON Asia 2010 comes on the heels of calls for global retailers to push into faster growing developing markets to make up for declining growth at home, according to Marvin Morrison, ICSC's senior vice president.