The Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), the largest business organization with the longest standing in the Asia-Pacific, will hold the 37th PBEC International General Meeting in Beijing from June 25 to 29.  

Wang Jinzhen, spokesman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), made the announcement at a news briefing in Beijing Wednesday.

Founded in 1967, the PBEC holds an international general meeting every year and this is the first time for it to hold such a meeting in China.

Wang, also associate chairman of the CCPIT, said some 500 officials, businessmen and scholars will attend the meeting and China promises this meeting will be a most prominent event in the business area.

The theme of the meeting will be "Promoting changes: a new role for business in the Asia-Pacific."

Delegates will discuss topics such as "rescuing the WTO", "creating stable financial systems" and "fostering private sector development."

Topics involving China include "profiting from China's growth: outbound investment and tourism", "China and India: competition and cooperation" and "Manufacturing in China a view from the inside."

The PBEC, with its Secretariat in Hong Kong, is an international private-sector organization. China joined the PBEC in 1994.

Its objectives are to strengthen the business enterprise system, to create new business relationships and to increase trade and investment through free markets and open investment policies. The PBEC committees maintain close links with other business leaders, and with international institutions.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2004)