Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) will return to the prestigious Boao Forum for Asia this week as a Diamond Sponsor for the eighth consecutive year.
The Forum, to be held from March 22-25, will once again be hosted on the island province of Hainan in China and will bring together world leaders, business leaders, economists, philanthropists and academics for important discussions around the theme of “Asia’s New Future: New Dynamics, New Vision”.
FMG Chairman, Andrew Forrest welcomed the significant opportunity provided by the Boao Forum for global leaders to explore the major issues for the future of the Asian region.
“We place the highest value on building our mutual understanding through participation at the Boao Forum for Asia, including co-hosting the highly successful Australia-China Senior Business Leaders Forum.“
“Building from a concept conceived during the 2014 Boao Forum, the Australia Sino Agricultural 100 Year Partnership (ASA 100) has now been established as part of our growing bilateral cooperation on agribusiness. We have demonstrated unquestionably that Australia has the infrastructure and capacity to supply quality food products to meet the rising demand from the Asian region,” Mr Forrest said.
Nev Power, FMG Chief Executive Officer said the recent release of China’s 13th Five Year Plan demonstrated the huge potential for economic cooperation between China and Australia. “Since we met at Boao last year, the One Belt, One Road Action Plan has been launched and 57 countries, including Australia, have signed on as founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.”
“As a major supplier of iron ore with the majority of our customers in China, at FMG we are particularly encouraged by China’s projected GDP growth rate of 6.5%, as well as their continued rapid urbanisation program and sustained infrastructure development. We anticipate this journey driving solid growth and demand for steel for decades to come,” Mr Power said.
Andrew Forrest will also co-host the Australia-China Senior Business Leaders’ Forum (SBLF) with Mr Li Ruogu at the Boao Forum. Now in its fifth year, SBLF is an invaluable opportunity for Chinese and Australian business leaders to explore shared areas of interest and to pursue significant strategic relationships.