Forum sets the stage for frank dialogue

The Cepa Business Leaders Forum will bring together senior ministers, business leaders and academics who are well qualified to address many of the important issues surrounding the implementation of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Cepa).

Initiated by the Ministry of Commerce, the forum will provide an opportunity for frank dialogue with senior officials from ministries, bureaus and departments.

The event will open with a welcome dinner on October 31 in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee Building in Beijing.

Leading the discussions on the first day will be the deputy director of the General Administration of Customs, Liu Wenjie, who will discuss the implications of zero import tariffs for Hong Kong's manufacturing industry.

He will be followed by Wang Liaoping, director-general for the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau office of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation (Moftec); Hu Jingyan, director-general of Moftec's Department of Foreign Investment; and Xu Ming, deputy director-general for market system development.

Lunch in the National People's Congress Hall will provide an excellent opportunity for speakers and delegates to exchange views and ideas.

The afternoon session will start with Lu Jianhua, director-general, foreign investment. Mr Lu will discuss managing product trade and the promotion of a constructive foreign trading system.