Boao Forum for Asia Seoul Conference 2018 opens

The event drew the attention of some 800 entrepreneurs and government officials. It was also attended by Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong and the Republic of Korea (RoK) Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, as well as chief executives of Samsung, Hyundai Motor and SK, RoK’s top three conglomerates.

The participants discussed the topics of global economy and regional cooperation, scientific and technological innovation, and inclusive growth.

Addressing the conference, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who serves as Chairman of the BFA, emphasized that Asia is faced with a collection of challenges including anti-globalization, protectionism and isolationism, which represent the crisis of global uncertainties, calling upon Asian nations to cooperate closely to stick to multilateralism values.

The BFA, also known as an Asian version of the World Economic Forum in Davos, was founded in 2001. It is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation that hosts high-level forums for leaders from government, business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large. Besides, it is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.

The event opens in various locations around the world for regional meetings, separate from an annual gathering held in Boao (Hainan province, China) every April. Seoul is the first North East Asian city to host a regional meeting for the forum./.