Beginning from 17th and running though Sunday evening, the BFA Annual Conference is widely recognized as one of the region’s most prominent economic forums. This year, discussions focus on the theme of the 2009 Conference, Asia: Managing beyond Crisis. Participants will examine and talk about the effect of the crisis on Asia, and what steps the region should be taking to weather the challenges of the coming year as effectively as possible.
Mr Pär Östberg, representing the Volvo Group, illustrated Volvo’s position to the BFA and perspectives on the world financial crisis at the opening plenary. He said, “We are now facing challenging times, but there is no doubt that Asia and especially China even in the global downturn offer a highly favorable potential for growth”. “The Boao Forum now gathering leaders from around the world demonstrates that we in business and industry can work together for change. That we can join forces and work for common prosperity, regardless of whether we live in China, Europe or anywhere else in the world”, he added.
As a leading global supplier for commercial transport solutions, the Volvo Group is committed to establishing a partnership with China and Asia and to bring its expertise in environmental, logistical and safety related issues into this partnership to the benefit of all parties. Continuing support to the BFA embodies Volvo’s efforts of promoting the development of Asia economy and our long-term commitment to China.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered the keynote address, updating the approaches the Chinese government adopting to overcome the world economic downturn and the results already achieved, and emphasizing the confidence and hope for the recovery. He also recited the Chinese government’s continuing support for this annual event, and confirming the Boao Forum as Asia’s leading platform for dialogue. He was joined by leaders from eleven other nations, including:
Asif Ali Zardari, President, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Nursultan Abishevich NAZARBAYEV, President, Republic of Kazakhstan
S BAYAR, Prime Minister, Mongolia
Thein SEIN, Prime Minister, the Union of Myanmar
NGUYEN Tan Dung, Prime Minister, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Matti VANHANEN, Prime Minister, Finland
Sali BERISHA, Prime Minister, Albania
Michael SOMARE, Prime Minister, Papua New Guinea
John KEY, Prime Minister, New Zealand
Parviz DAVOODI, First Vice-President of Iran
The Boao Forum for Asia was established in 2001 as a platform for high-level interaction between thought leaders from Asia and around the world, with the aim of promoting the development goals of Asian countries through greater regional economic integration.
For more information about Boao Forum Asia, please log on http://www.boaoforum.org/
