The Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, led 10 youth from various regions of the Philippines to participate in the 7th Boao Forum for Asia Youth Summit in Hong Kong on 8 November 2018.
Speaker Arroyo, who is one of the forum’s board members, described China’s “breathtaking” development over the last four decades while underscoring that the Philippines is one of China’s biggest partners now thanks to the current policy of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
She said she brought the Filipino youth, who represent various provinces of the Philippines, to “witness and experience for themselves the groth of China in the last 40 years since it opened it opened up to the world”.
The participating youth are Carl Martin D. Borreros, Mark Edison T. Alejandro, Edmar S. Raboy, Djonald Andrade, Regine Joy A. Perania, Edward James R. Ente, Melanie Mae N. Jocson, Bin Nur Asia Magangcong, Jhoel Sare Asis, and Shandece Mae P. Gerarcas.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor opened the forum, praising China for its proactive role in international cooperation since the start of comprehensive country-wide reforms initiated by then leader Deng Xiaoping in 1978. She added that the people of Hong Kong are the key to China’s development.
Wang Zhimin, Minister of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, praised Hong Kong in his keynote speech for Hong Kong’s special role in the progress of China, especially in bridging the country to the rest of the world.
The welcoming speech was delivered by its Secretary General Li Baodong, who called on the participants to be daring to face the challenge of the future and to work harder to shine and support China toward a new phase of development.
Another key speaker was Ambassador Xie Feng, Commissioner of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who said Hong Kong stands to benefit from China’s opening thanks to new opportunities.
The special forum, themed “Reform and Opening-Up: China and the World”, had as its objective providing “youth perspectives on how to integrate with the world in terms of the global economy, talent and training and artificial intelligence and cultural exchanges, as well as how to build a community with a shared future for mankind in the new era.”
The forum has been held in Hong Kong every year since 2009, growing in size and importance every year to become one of the city’s regularly recurring events for the youth.
