Forumblog.org - The World Economic Forum Blog

Photos from the World Economic Forum Summit on East Asia

Pictures from the World Economic Forum on East Asia held in Vietnam 6-7 June 2010.

World Economic Forum on East Asia closes, calls for greater Asian leadership role in global affairs

The 19th World Economic Forum on East Asia ended today with participants underscoring the need for Asia’s leaders to take a bigger role in world affairs, including discussions on a global financial architecture and international trade. The region has recovered swiftly from the global economic crisis, but the challenges remain complex and connected, and Asia is still vulnerable to global risks.

Six members of the G20 come from East Asia, so the issues that matter most to developing countries and the region in particular should be on the table in G20 meetings.

Trade should be among those issues, said Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization. “Looking at Asia, one sees very good examples of trade opening leading to growth,” he said. “The countries that are the most open have been doing better during and after the global crisis than countries that were less open.”

Summing up the outcomes of the meeting, Robert Greenhill, Managing Director and Chief Business Officer, World Economic Forum, also noted the importance of environmentally responsible economic growth and the equitable distribution of the fruits of development.

Watch the full closing session below.

Indonesia will host the 20th World Economic Forum on East Asia in June next year

Thai PM calls for reconciliation, but firm on rule of law

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand, told more than 400 of Asia’s leading decision-makers at the 19th World Economic Forum on East Asia in Vietnam that his country is swiftly moving forward after the disruptions of the violent opposition protests in April and May.
“I am open to have early elections, but those elections must be helpful to reconciliation,” he declared.
In a special update session on Thailand, moderated by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, the prime minister called on everyone in Thailand, including the Red Shirt protesters, to engage with the government in its efforts towards national reconciliation. If the opposition joins in, he said, most of the issues concerning the constitution, the media and the divisions in society can be settled.
But he was firm on bringing to account the protesters who were responsible for the violence that erupted in May. “Everybody needs to follow the law,” said the prime minister. “No person can be above the law.” In apparent reference to former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been accused of supporting the violent protests, Abhisit said the national interest should not be held hostage to the interest of one person.
Abhisit said the fundamentals of Thailand’s economy remain strong, noting that first quarter GDP growth was a robust 12%, which was achieved against a backdrop of opposition protests in March. He said the original target of 16 million visitor arrivals may not be achieved this year, but was confident that the 14 million figure last year could be equalled.
The prime minister promised to address the “legitimate grievances” of the protesters, the majority of whom wanted to achieve their end through peaceful means. “People have a right to good education, healthcare and insurance in old age,” he said. “We will also open up the political space more, especially in the rural areas where people may feel too much power is concentrated in the capital. We are going to push this agenda forward.”

Watch the full session below.

Asian leaders call for greater role in global governance

“A truly new opportunity has dawned on East Asia and so it must take a greater role in global governance,” Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam told more than 400 of Asia’s leading decision-makers at the inauguration of the 19th World Economic Forum on East Asia in Vietnam. The region has recovered swiftly from the global economic crisis, he said, but it must work to turn recovery into economic growth that is sustainable, equitable and helps to solve the problem of climate change.

Optimism and confidence characterized the remarks of leaders at the meeting – among them Prime Ministers Bouasone Bouphavanh of Laos, and Samdach Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen of Cambodia, along with Kiat Sittheeamorn, President of Thailand Trade Representative, and Wang Zhizhen, Vice-Chairwoman, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), People's Republic of China.

Vice-Chairwoman Wang said that in past crises, it was Asian countries that provided the engine for economic revival. “Everyone is hoping to learn from Asian dynamism.” In historic turning points like this, she added, Asia and the rest of the world must work together for world peace and progress. She called on countries in Asia to develop strategies for post-crisis economic development, continue areas of cooperation and ponder the region’s enhanced role in the world economy. Watch the full session below:

Livestream Programme of the World Economic Forum Summit on East Asia

Over 400 of Asia’s leading decision-makers from business, government, academia and civil society from over 50 countries will participate in the 19th World Economic Forum on East Asia, which will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on 6-7 June. It is the first time that this meeting will be held in Vietnam. The participants and programme were announced at a press conference in Hanoi today. The meeting is co-hosted by the Government of Vietnam.

Under the theme “Rethinking Asia’s Leadership Agenda”, the programme will explore the many facets of the region's rising economic influence, such as how high-growth economies can improve their competitiveness through developing innovation-driven, green economies.

With the participation of President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam, the World Economic Forum on East Asia will be an opportunity to discuss the priorities of Vietnam’s current chairmanship of ASEAN.

Key sessions listed below will be streamed live on Livestream, key quotes will be live tweeted on the Forum’s Twitter feed, and high resolution photos will be available for free download on Flickr.

We would also like to you participate in the discussion on YouTube in the Davos Debates. We invite YOU and participants to reply on YouTube on the Davos Debates video channel and discuss with global leaders the key issues affecting our planet.

How Can Asia Lead the World?

"How can Asia lead the world?" is the question we want to discuss at the Davos Debates on East Asia which coincide with the World Economic Forum on East Asia held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from 6-7 June 2010.

The meeting is under the theme: “Rethinking Asia's Leadership Agenda”. The 19th World Economic Forum on East Asia will explore the many facets of the region's rising influence. YouTube users are invited to submit their ideas or questions via video or in writing to http://youtube.com/davos. Users can also vote on their favourite submissions from others using the new Google moderator function.

At the meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we will set up a special Davos Debates video corner where participants, including presidents and business leaders, will respond via video to the questions submitted by YouTube users. The Davos Debates are designed to open the discussion about the future of the region to the wider public who is invited to share their questions and ideas about the region’s most pressing challenges.

Summer Davos to Return to Tianjin, China in 2010

 
The Forum has agreed with the Tianjin Government, China that the city will host the fourth Summer Davos in its new downtown convention centre. The Summer Davos or Annual Meeting of the New Champions will take place 13-15 September 2010. The meeting will focus on creating sustainable growth, taking into account the economic challenges the world is currently facing. The event will provide a platform for the rising generation of global leaders to engage with the world's current crop of top business executives.

The New Champions are led by the Forum's Community of Global Growth Companies, Technology Pioneers and Young Global Leaders. Watch the highlights video of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2009 here.

India's Next Generation of Growth

"India's Next Generation of Growth" is the theme of the World Economic Forum's India Economic Summit 2009 to be held from 8-10 November 2009 in New Delhi. Sushant Palakurthi Rao, Head of Asia at the World Economic Forum, explains the programme of the meeting which celebrates 25 years of engagement of the World Economic Forum in India.

Yukio Hatoyama addresses World Economic Forum Japan Meeting

Yukio Hatoyama, Japan's future prime minister  and a member of the Davos Caucus, gave a glimpse of his economic policy in a keynote address at the opening of the World Economic Forum Japan Meeting 2009, held in Tokyo on 4 September.

"We cannot just leave everything to the markets. We need to have a balance between government regulations and free market activities," said Yukio Hatoyama, Head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) after the landslide victory of his party at the recent general elections.

The Japan Meeting, organized by the Japan Davos Caucus, brought together 100 Japanese leaders from business, politics, government, academia and civil society. The meeting focused on Japan’s role in global affairs following the general election of the Japanese lower house. Participants discussed Japan’s most important economic and business challenges in an informal, peer-to-peer setting.

The one day meeting coincided with the opening of the Forum's Japan office in Tokyo. The office will actively facilitate communication and cooperation between Japanese institutions from business and government and global institutions.

Holistic Approach Needed For Global Recovery

The World Economic Forum's "Summer Davos" in Asia comes at an opportune moment with many observers seeing the first shoots of recovery from the economic crisis.

Lee Howell, who is in charge of the programme for the "Summer Davos" - the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian in September, says dynamic entrepreneurs such as Global Growth Companies will have an important role to play especially in Asia.

The programme underlines the need for a holistic approach to recovery which will include finding new business models to cope with debt and taking into account the need to find sustainable solutions to climate change and other green issues. Watch the interview with Lee here.