Najib Starts Second Day At WEF With Asean Agenda

From Nor Baizura Basri DAVOS (Switzerland), Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak will start his second day at the 45th World Economic Forum (WEF) with Asean on his mind, delivering a message to investors that there is a new kid on the block in terms of a new source of growth. Starting his day as early as 8.30 am, Najib is expected to deliver a special address at the Asean Regional Business Council, themed "Shaping a Bold and Forward-Looking Future for Asean in the New Global Context". The closed-door session will among others touch on how the Asean Economic Community (AEC) can ensure sustained and equitable growth and positively cements the region at the world stage. Among the panellists during the session include CIMB Group Holdings Chairman Nazir Razak, AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Fernandes, Lippo Group Executive Director John Riady and VinaCapital Group CEO and Co-Founder Don Lam. After that, Najib is scheduled to have a recorded interview with Cable News Network (CNN) on Malaysia's initiatives and achievements. The Prime Minister will then attend another closed-door session, the Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL), which is a high-powered meeting whereby only invited leaders will participate. Among the objective is to bring together leaders from governments, central banks, civil socities and others to discuss on the imperatives for the world in 2015. Over 80 participants comprising heads of states and government and prominent figures are expected to attend the session. Najib, who is also Finance Minister, will then participate as a special guest in the "Meet the Leader" session, which will be moderated by Fernandes. This is a dialogue session between a head of government and CEOs from the manufacturing, airline and service industries on how to help in stimulating countries' competitiveness and create jobs. At 3 pm, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry. Najib will continue with his Asean agenda at the Asean Leader's Session, in which he will be one of the panellists in explaining how these 10-member countries can reap the benefits of greater regional integration in a new global context. The session will be moderated by Channel News Asia Executive Editor and Presenter Teymoor Nabili. Other panellists are Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula and Vietnam's Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Pham Binh Minh. A televised panel session, in which Najib will participate as a panellist to talk on creating the AEC, will follow suit. After the session, the Prime Minister will have a bilateral meeting with Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Karim Massimov. The highlight of the day will be the Malaysian night as a way to boost the country's presence at the WEF. Local Malaysian cuisine as well as cultural performances await guests as they venture into the melting pot and diversity of the country and its people that fits the "Malaysia Truly Asia" tagline. -- BERNAMA