Hong Kong to Host 14th PECC General Meeting

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 22, 2001

Hong Kong to Host 14th PECC General Meeting

Hong Kong is expected to host the 14th General Meeting of Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) from November 28 to 30, bringing together representatives from the academia, business and government of the 25-member economies of PECC.

Describing the meeting as PECC's most important biennial event,Dr William Fung, PECC chair and chairman of Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation said, "This meeting represents the culmination of Hong Kong's tenure as Chair of PECC for 1999 - 2001."

"It will showcase what PECC has achieved in the past two years under our chairmanship, which will end on November 30," he added.

Hong Kong formally took up the chairmanship of PECC in October 1999. As Chair, Hong Kong will host the 14th PECC General Meeting at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center before the conclusion of its two-year term.

The main theme of the meeting is "Managing Globalization in the21st Century". It will examine the opportunities and challenges ofglobalization, and how globalization can best be managed for the benefit of both developing as well as advanced economies.

Sub-themes include charting the millennium trade agenda, strengthening financial markets and corporate governance, community building and seizing the e-opportunities.

"Our conference could not be more timely. Other than taking a fresh look at the post-Doha WTO deliberations, our speakers will also be sharing with participants their insight into the implications of the '911 incident' for the region given the intertwining nature of world issues," Fung said.

Fung pointed out that with China's accession to the WTO, the meeting would also provide a timely occasion to review the opportunities and challenges for the Mainland, for Hong Kong, and for the rest of the trading community.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Tung Chee Hwa will officiate and make a keynote speech at the opening ceremony while Financial Secretary Antony Leung will host a gala dinner to welcome the participants.

PECC is a non-governmental organization established in 1980 with the purpose of developing closer cooperation on trade and economic policy issues among economies in the region. At present, it has a total of 25 member committees in the region.