(LEAD) Asian biz lobbies-meeting

▲ Representatives of key business lobbies from around Asia gather for a photo session during the 12th Asia Business Summit in Seoul on July 5, 2023. South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun (front row, 3rd from L), a special guest to the venue, stands alongside Keidanren chair Masakazu Tokura (2nd from L) and Federation of Korean Industries acting chief Kim Byong-joon (4th from L). (Yonhap)

▲ Masakazu Tokura, chair of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), delivers remarks during the 12th Asia Business Summit, a meeting of key business lobbies from around Asia, co-hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries and Keidanren in Seoul on July 5, 2023. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Asian biz lobbies-meeting

(LEAD) Asian biz lobbies discuss cooperation in supply chains, people-to-people exchanges

(ATTN: UPDATES photos)

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- Business associations representing over a dozen Asian countries gathered in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss ways to boost cooperation in supply chains and reinvigorate people-to-people exchanges, a South Korean business lobby said.

The 12th Asia Business Summit, co-hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), brought together the chiefs of 13 business organizations, including the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Taiwan's Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce and the Confederation of Indian Industry, the FKI said.

Other business associations from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Malaysia were also in attendance.

Launched in 2010 upon Keidanren's initiative, the Asian Business Summit serves to promote regional economic integration among Asian nations. It has 16 major business lobbies as members. This year's session marks the first time in six years the event has taken place in South Korea.

Some 30 other businesspeople from member countries also attended the conference.

The participants called for strengthening cooperation in regional supply chains by forming "supply swaps" between countries and building more partnerships for the development of critical minerals, the FKI said.

They also suggested adopting an expedited entry process between countries, such as a temporary designation of no-visa entries for certain cities and tourist destinations in Asia, as a way to revitalize people-to-people exchanges.

Also on the table were ways to deepen solidarity for sustainable economic and social development and cooperation in digital transitions, the FKI said.

Based on the proposals made during the conference, the member associations adopted a joint statement outlining the commitment to implementing the proposals for co-prosperity of Asia.

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