Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue) will return to the prestigious Boao Forum for Asia this week as a Diamond Sponsor for the seventh consecutive year.
The Forum, to be held from March 26-29, 2015 will again be hosted on the island province of Hainan in China and will bring together world leaders, business leaders, economists, philanthropists and academics.
The theme for the 2015 Boao Forum ‘Asia’s New Future: Towards a Community of Common Destiny’ will provide a framework for leaders to explore a broad agenda of globally significant topics.
China’s President Xi Jinping will attend this year’s Forum, and will address the Opening Plenary on Saturday 28 March. Fifteen world leaders will also attend the 2015 event.
Fortescue Chairman and Founder Andrew Forrest, who will meet with President Xi at an exclusive business leaders’ meeting at the Boao Forum, said Fortescue was proud of its longstanding association with this important event.
“Fortescue is honoured to have the opportunity to again participate in the Boao Forum, one of the most important avenues for Australia to pursue its most significant strategic relationship with China,” Mr Forrest said.
“The Boao Forum provides a unique platform to draw on the wealth of skills and expertise of participants and we’re proud to be among those who are able to contribute.
“I’m also pleased to be co-chairing the Australia-China Business Leaders Forum again in 2015. China is Australia’s most important trading partner and our agenda this year will also address some key issues for our shared future."
Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Nev Power said Fortescue’s deep and longstanding relationship with China has underpinned its success in supplying iron ore to the Chinese market since its establishment in 2003.
“This year will also mark an important milestone for Fortescue in our trading relationship with China as we now approach 500 million tonnes of ore shipped. As well as being a reliable, high quality supplier of iron ore to China, Fortescue
has sourced more than $1 billion from Chinese suppliers of equipment for our operations,” Mr Power said.
"From this position of strength, Fortescue is well-positioned to contribute strongly to China’s ongoing urbanisation and industrialisation journey.”
The fourth China-Australia Senior Business Leaders’ Forum (SBLF) will be co-hosted by Mr Forrest and Mr Li Ruogu during the 2015 Forum. The SBLF, which was held for the first time during the Forum in 2013, was initiated with a preparatory
meeting in 2012.