On June 20, SRCIC Vice Chairman and Secretary General Li Zhonghang was invited to attend 2019 Asia Pacific Business Forum (AFBF) held in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea.
Under theme of Global Goals, Local Opportunities, participants discussed and exchanged views on topics including Climate and Disaster Resilience for SMES, Infrastructure and Connectivity Game Changers, Inclusive Business in Asia Pacific, Best Practice and Emerging Opportunities in Resources and Energy, and Green Finance and Financial Inclusion.
Dr. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Dr. George Lam, President of ESCAP Sustainable Business Network delivered welcoming speeches respectively at the opening session. H.E. James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea delivered opening speech.
Li Zhonghang,SRCIC Vice Chairman and Secretary General (L1), Dr. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, and Lee Ju Song, Executive director of ICC Asia
David Morris, Chairman of 2019 Asia Pacific Business Forum (L1), Li Zhonghang, SRCIC Vice Chairman and Secretary General, Dr. George Lam, President of ESCAP Sustainable Business Network
Li Zhonghang, along with Vajira Piyasena, CEO of Fiji Ports Corporation, Simon Lacey, Vice President of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, Roy Mumu, Secretary Department of Transport, and Paul Komboi, Managing Director of Dataco Limited, participated the panel session on Infrastructure and Connectivity Game Changers.
Panel Session
Mr. Li indicated that Pacific Island is an organic component of the south route of the 21st Century maritime silk road and an indispensable part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “During the process of BRI construction and cooperation with South Pacific countries, the connectivity and business links have been significantly strengthened not only confining in Pacific countries, but also reaching out to Pacific countries and Eurasian countries.” Mr. Li emphasized.
On the same day, Li Zhonghang signed the Memorandum of Understanding with John Lacey, President of Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Li also expressed his views on the cooperation between China and Papua New Guinea in an interview with Papua New Guinea Commercial Television (EMTV).
Li Zhonghang(L),SRCIC Vice Chairman and Secretary General and John Lacey (R), President of Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce, signing Memorandum of Understanding.
Li Zhonghang was interviewed by Papua New Guinea commercial television (EMTV).
Both Lee Jusong and David Morris expressed their gratitude to Li Zhonghang for attending the forum, and discussed the follow-up cooperation and the possibility of co-hosting of Asia Pacific Business Forum. Li also invited them to attend the 2019 Silk Road Business Summit to be held in Hong Kong in early December.