Beijing mainly stayed away from event it was originally scheduled to host, leaving some frustrated that its voice went unheard
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 11 November, 2018, 3:58pm
UPDATED : Monday, 12 November, 2018, 6:58am
Singapore stepped in to host the Bloomberg New Economy Forum after it was moved from China. Photo: Reuters
tammy.tam@scmp.com
Those were the words of Michael Bloomberg, founder of the global finance media network of the same name and former mayor of New York, as he opened the high-level “New Economy Forum” last week.
The two-day event was moved to the city state from Beijing to avoid clashing with the opening of the inaugural China International Import Expo.
As if to quell speculation that China was not really keen on the forum amid its escalating trade war with the US, Vice-President Wang Qishan, a trusted aide of President Xi Jinping, flew to Singapore to deliver a keynote speech.
Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore on November 6. Photo: AFP
He also met many old friends, including Bloomberg and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger. Wang ended his whirlwind tour with a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
So would Bloomberg have given the same compliment to Beijing had the venue not been changed? Very likely, yes, but nice words make people happy. A Singapore business friend of mine proudly accepted the praise, declaring: “Where else in Asia can you pull it off in just about six weeks other than Singapore – or Hong Kong?”
It was kind of him to include Hong Kong. For some reason, many people in the two cities are obsessed with constant comparisons, politically, economically and socially.
We do not know whether Hong Kong was ever considered as a venue for the forum, but Singapore proved it was the right choice by ensuring a well-organised event.
In addition to Kissinger, the long VIP list included former US treasury secretary Hank Paulson; IMF chief Christine Lagarde; former US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen; former chief economic adviser to US President Donald Trump, Gary Cohn; former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd; Malaysian prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim; ministers from other Asian countries and Hong Kong’s first chief executive Tung Chee-hwa.
