REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING -- Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will receive the Benevolent Leadership award from the World China Economic Forum (WCEF), to be held in Chongqing, China, from December 3 to 7, 2014.

The WCEF's Chairman, Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Michael Yeoh, told Antara in Beijing on Monday that Yudhoyono, who will also be one of the speakers at the event, was chosen to receive the award because of his leadership, which assisted in developing Indonesia into a more advances country, and because Yudhoyono has been an active participant at regional and international forums.

The sixth WCEF, themed "China's New Global Role, Achieving Balanced Growth and Sharing Mutual Prosperity" will see 400 participants from 20 countries.

"Besides some former state leaders, there will be economic experts and analysts from China, Southeast Asia and other regions, to discuss current economic development and challenges," he said.

This year's forum is also supported by the business sector and Chinese diaspora in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, UK, Germany, Switzerland, and US.

"The Asian-Pacific countries and China have a vibrant cooperation that is expected to become stronger, based upon long-term mutual partnerships," Yeoh noted.

Yeoh emphasized that the WCEF was an event to share knowledge and experiences in a bid to strengthen economic cooperation among the Asian-Pacific countries and with China.

Besides former President Yudhoyono, former Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu will also attend the forum and is among the scheduled speakers.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad will also attend the forum.

The first WCEF was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2009. The annual forum was established to strengthen economic cooperation among Asian-Pacific countries and China.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika