BusinessllirnDr
'PHL, China
investors
attending
Boao gab
OME 300 businessmen from
China and the Philippines
will explore the possibility
of investing in the two countries
duringthe two-dayBoao Forum for
Asia (BFA) in Manila, theleadership
of the House of Representatives an^-
nounced on Sunday.
The event on Mondayand Tues-
day, spearheaded by Speaker Glo-
ria Macapagal-Arroyo. seeks to
bring togetber some of the coun,
try's business leaders and their
Chinese counterparts.
According to Arroyo, the event
with a theme "ConcertedAction for
Common Development in the New
Era" will also foster closer ties and
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create goodwillbetween the Philippines and Chi-
na, building on the momentum for cooperation
created by President Rodrigo Duterte and Presi-
dentXi Jinping during the latter's StateVisitlast
November.
Arroyo, who extendedthe invitationto the BFA
to hold the conference in Manila, is a member of
the Board of the BFA.
The conference is expected to convene aPproxi-
mately 300 participants. Among them willbe 100
businessleaders from China, 100 business leaders
from the Philippinesand 100 executives fromthe
Chinese enterprises in the Philippines.
Auoyo, in a statement, said senior officials of
the Philippine government andbusiness chambers
are also expected to address and interaatwith the
audience.
The eventwillbe attendedby President Duterte,
who will deliver the Keynote Speech, as well as
BFA Secretary-General Li Badong. Members of
the Cabinet and several Chinese officials are also
takingpart in the event at the Shangri-Lain BGC,
Taguig.
It aims to help the visiting Chinese entrepre-
neursbetterunderstandthebusiness environment
andrelatedpolicies of the Philippines, introducing
BFA to the Philippine governrnent and business
cornrqrnitj44pd implementingthe important con-
sensus reachedby top leaders of the two countries,
and strengthening the alignment ofthe Belt and
' Road Initiative with the development strategies
of the Philippines and Asean.
The BFAand the Federation of Filipino-Chinese
Chambers of Commetce and lndustry Inc (FFCCII)
will cosponsorthe conference, with the Philippine
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the
Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philex-
port) and the Chinese Embassyinthe Philippines
as supporting Partners
The BFA, often referred to as the Davos of
Asia, has become a high-end platform for dialog
among leaders of national governments, indus-
trial and business circles, and academic circles
of countries in Asia and other continents about
the important issues in Asia and even the whole
world.
China a partner-GMA
EARLIEi, Arroyo said the China is a partner and
not a threat to the Philippines amid issues on the
disputed islands in the West Philippines Sea.
She said China through the years has proven
wrong the negative notions of its policies towatd
reform, and has been openingup as it has become
the country's No. 1 partner in the development.
Arroyo added that China has also been a ma-
jor market for Filipino-Chinese businessmen as
they have been investing in China.
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