I had expected to write a column this week about how I have a distinct habit of travelling in the opposite direction of big sports events. For the Sydney Olympics, I went to London. For the Beijing Games, I took to Bangkok. And for Singapore's First F1? Of course, I went to Beijing.

Or more precisely, I was an hour away in Tianjin's new economic development zone, one of the world's fastest-growing, most infrastructure rich, and most polluted cities in the world. And it was here that the Swiss event World Economic Forum brought its "Summer Davos" - its biggest annual gathering outside of the annual Davos summit - to town once again.

As it happened, it was a unique moment to be in closed-door meetings with some of the gurus of economics and trade, including representatives of the "New Champions", the global growth companies from the likes of China, India, Brazil and Poland.

The timing was fascinating. The enormity of the US financial crisis had bitten the week before, as had the news of China's milk powder debacle, an unfolding news event that hit many neighbouring countries in the stomach at a time when China had done much to win our hearts.

Fortunately I was heading to China with a fondness for black coffee. And I was there in what turned out to be an even more dramatic week, in particular with US politicians debating over the right to helm their shaky economy - and stalling over an unpopular bailout plan, a stalling which threatened to grind the world's biggest economy to a halt.

As China's premier Hu Jintao hit town, and Jet Li jetted in as well, from afar, US leaders seemed to waver in their quest to steady their ship. Meanwhile President Bush infamously channelled John Wayne, noting of the teetering economy, “If money isn’t loosened up, this sucker could go down.” Thank goodness he was finding his most inspiring lines.

Much of what I sat in on was for an internal audience. But during the on-record meetings and interviews as well as during conversations, it was a week for curious cultural contrasts. A week of hearing, thanks to instant translation, the growingly sophisticated analysis on the part of Chinese economic leaders. They were not only reflecting their new place in the economic field, but also on the potential sinking of the world's biggest consumer market.

And the ever-efficient Swiss organisers, rolling out the mechanics of this monster business event - with enough staff to fill an entire function hall in the Renaissance Tianjin at the end. And the always effusive New Yorkers, reflecting with dry humour on the fate of their home economy, and what the Chinese must be making of their "example" right now.

Suddenly I didn't miss the roaring engines. For this was day-by-day drama at its best, provided by a community brought together for three days, and steeled by dramatic news arriving via cable and broadband. I recalled the days after the September 11 attacks in the US, when a Jakarta travel event provided the forum through which we all reacted, and recoiled.

Reflections? Knee-jerk reactions were wiped aside. The Chinese very quickly dismissed notions that the fate of the US economy was somehow a plus for the PRC, who rightly feared for the fate of the richest market in the world. People behind the scenes also explained to me the possible outcome of zero bailout in Wall Street as potentially resulting in zero cash availability - meaning US citizens at ATMs abroad might not even be able to withdraw their own money.

It is often during the most dire times when we value the assurance of our fellow businessmen, and the certainty that they too feel nervous. But also that they too feel determined to endure.

It's also these times when the mind is sharpened most for the task ahead, and when the insights offered have the most chance of really helping us run our businesses better. Hopefully they too were drinking coffee that was black and strong.