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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation:
The Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (HKCPEC) and the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (CNCPEC) jointly held a seminar titled "Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region – Maintaining Stable and Sustainable Growth" today (June 30). More than 180 members of the academic, business and government sectors attended.
The Chair of the CNCPEC, Ambassador Tang Guoqiang, said in his opening remarks that the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) had been committed to promoting economic co-operation along the Pacific rim since its establishment in 1980. It had remained active to provide intellectual input to the process of economic co-operation since the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 1989.
"The event is of great relevance to APEC's agenda of regional economic co-operation and development," said Ambassador Tang, adding that stable and sustainable growth remained APEC's top priority.
In closing, the Chairman of the HKCPEC, Professor Stephen Cheung, said that the Asia-Pacific region had consistently been the locomotive of economic growth for the world, and the region could collectively contribute to and gain from the vibrant growth through economic co-operation.
"It is only through economic co-operation that our region can better equip ourselves and stand together to storm through to our future challenges," said Professor Cheung.
The Seminar consisted of four sessions.
During the first session on "Hong Kong's Contribution to the Growth of Regional Trade", speakers discussed and shared their views on the importance of the free flow of trade and investment as exemplified in Hong Kong in contributing to regional trade and propelling global economic growth.
In the second session on "Managing Supply Chain Disruptions", speakers shared their insights on minimising such disruptions and addressing "bottlenecks" through closer co-operation among economies and capacity-building activities in the region.
The topic of the third session was the "Outlook for SMEs in a Changing Economic Climate". Speakers shared their experience and advice for SMEs to expand their presence and tap opportunities in the global market.
During the last session on the "Role of Technology in Shaping Trade and Business in the Asia Pacific", speakers analysed the latest trend of innovation and technology development, and shared their views on how technology could facilitate growth in the region.
Speakers and moderators of the four sessions were as follows:
Session 1: Hong Kong's Contribution to the Growth of Regional Trade
Speakers:
- Professor Michael Enright,
Director, Enright, Scott & Associates Ltd;
Sun Hung Kai Properties Professor,
Faculty of Business and Economics,
University of Hong Kong
- Mr Nicholas Kwan
Director of Research,
Hong Kong Trade Development Council;
HKCPEC Member
- Mr Victor Chu
Chairman and CEO, First Eastern Investment Group
- Dr Huang Weiping
Jean Monnet Professor, School of Economics;
Director, Center for the World Economy Studies,
Renmin University of China
Moderator:
- Miss Elley Mao
Principal Economist,
Economic Analysis and Business Facilitation Unit,
Financial Secretary's Office,
The Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
Session 2: Managing Supply Chain Disruptions
Speakers:
- Mr Patrick Low
Vice President of Research, Fung Global Institute
- Ms Anna Lin
Chief Executive, GS1 Hong Kong;
Vice-chairman,
Sub-committee on Infrastructural Support,
Hong Kong Logistics Development Council
- Professor Zhang Xiaojing
Dean and Associate Researcher,
Economic Research Institute for China and ASEAN,
University of International Business and Economics
Moderator:
- Mr Eduardo Pedrosa
Secretary General, PECC
Session 3: The Outlook for SMEs in a Changing Economic Climate
Speakers:
- Mr Vincent Lo
Chairman, Shui On Group;
Hong Kong, China's representative
to APEC Business Advisory Council
- Mr Simon Galpin
Director-General of Investment Promotion,
Invest Hong Kong,
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- Ms Karen Chan
Executive Director,
German Pool Group Company Limited;
HKCPEC Member
- Dr Shen Minghui
Director,
Department of Emerging Economies,
National Institute of International Strategies,
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS);
Deputy Director,
Center for APEC and East Asian Cooperation, CASS
Moderator:
- Mr John Dawson
TV Presenter, Bloomberg Television
Session 4: Role of Technology in Shaping Trade and Business in the
Asia Pacific
Speakers:
- Mr Ganeshan Wignaraja
Director of Research,
Asian Development Bank Institute
- Mr Allen Ma
Chief Executive Officer,
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
- Professor Yu Jiang
Researcher,
Institute of Policy and Management,
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Moderator
- Mr Eduardo Pedrosa
Secretary General, PECC
Ends/Monday, June 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:30
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