The four-day ABAC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council) meeting was successfully concluded in Guangzhou on Feb. 17th. In an ABAC press conference held on Feb. 17th, Deb Henretta, ABAC chairman and P & G executive in Asia Pacific said that the theme of the first 2011 ABAC meeting was "Common Prosperity for Twenty-One Economies in the 21st Century".
ABAC has set for itself the following five major tasks in 2011: promoting regional economic integration, strengthening food and energy security, creating a sound environment for sustainable development of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), advancing financial integration and formulating action plans.
Feb. 17th of 2011 was the traditional Lantern Festival in the Year of Rabbit. On the evening of that day, an evening gala was held by the Committee for Economic and Trade Promotion of Guangdong in Shangri-La Hotel in Guangzhou. The gala was attended by Zhao Yufang, vice governor of Guangdong, Tang Bingquan, vice chairman of the CPPCC (Chinese People's political Consultative Conference) Guangdong Committee, government officials that participated in the ABAC Guangzhou meeting, business people, representatives from consulate generals in Guangzhou and officials of relevant government departments.
Prior to the gala, John Prasetio, chairman of CBA Asia from India and other eight business leaders in Asia Pacific region signed up as honorary presidents of International Chamber of Commerce of Guangdong. Meanwhile, the Committee for Economic and Trade Promotion of Guangdong signed contracts of closer bilateral cooperation with Peruvian Foreign Trade Association, Chamber of Commerce of Thailand and AmCham South China.
On Feb. 17th, the Committee for Economic and Trade Promotion of Guangdong also had a report on the investment environment of Guangdong for ABAC delegates.
