The 11th edition of the Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF), organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) was held in Beijing from 21^st to 23^rd October. Business leaders from some 800 companies from the EU and Asia participated in this event. Malta was represented at this conference by the President of Fimbank, Margrith Lutsch-Emmenegger who not only presented a paper on SME development but also chaired one of the five Working Groups. This is a first for Malta.

The AEBF is part of the official ASEM (Asia Europe Meeting) cooperation created to strengthen economic cooperation between the business sectors of Europe and Asia and to formulate recommendations for presentation to the 44 governments of Asian and European countries participating in the ASEM 7 Summit held in Beijing between October 24 and 25^th.

The participation of Malta in this forum was organized by Malta’s Embassy in Beijing. Malta’s Ambassador to China Mr. Karl Xuereb stated “I am delighted that we have been able to play a leading role at such a high profile event. Through this conference we have been able to communicate Malta’s financial services offer in general terms but also directly through one of our financial institutions to an audience from China and beyond at a time when access to finance for SMEs is critical in the light of the current global financial crisis.”

Every two years, the AEBF convenes in parallel with the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit. The first edition was organized in Paris in 1996.The Forum involves government officials and business representatives in a direct dialogue – chambers of commerce, business organizations, multinationals and SMEs from 45 ASEM members.