Former Bohol Governor Atty. Art C. Yap was among the distinguished guests at the
International Finance Forum (IFF) Global Annual Meeting held in Guangzhou, China from
October 27-28, 2023.
The IFF is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental international organization that aims
to promote dialogue and cooperation among financial institutions, policy makers, academics,
and experts from various fields.
IFF was founded in Beijing in 2003 and has been recognized as a F20 (Finance 20) platform
by the United Nations and other major international organisations.
The theme of this year’s IFF meeting was “Building a Community with a Shared Future for
Mankind: New Opportunities and Challenges for Global Financial Governance”.
The meeting featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, roundtables, and workshops on
topics such as green finance, digital currency, financial inclusion, global health, and regional
cooperation.
Yap, who served as Bohol’s governor from 2019 to 2022, shared his insights and
experiences on how to foster sustainable and inclusive development in the Philippines and
the ASEAN region.
He highlighted the achievements and challenges of Bohol’s tourism, agriculture, and
infrastructure sectors, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery
efforts.
Yap also expressed his support for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global development
strategy launched by China in 2013 that aims to enhance connectivity and cooperation
among countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond.
He said that the BRI offers opportunities for the Philippines and other developing countries to
access financing, technology, and markets, as well as to strengthen regional integration and
stability.
Yap also met with other prominent finance leaders and officials from China and other
countries, such as Zhou Xiaochuan, the former governor of the People’s Bank of China and
the honorary chairman of the IFF; Liu He, the vice premier of China and the director of the
Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission; Christine Lagarde, the president of the
European Central Bank; and Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International
Monetary Fund.
Yap said that he was honored and grateful to be invited to the IFF meeting and to represent
the Philippines and Bohol in the global finance arena.
He said that he hopes to continue to learn from and collaborate with his counterparts from
other countries and regions, and to contribute to the common goal of building a more
prosperous, resilient, and harmonious world.