More than 1,400 politicians, business leaders and intellectuals
from Asia and around the globe have gathered in the tropical
seaside town of Boao in the Chinese island province of Hainan for
the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2007, which kicked
off on Saturday morning and will run until Sunday night.
BFA Secretary General Long Yongtu hosted the opening ceremony
and conveyed his appreciation to participants for their support of
the conference.
Established in 2001 to facilitate high-level interaction among
thought leaders from Asia and the rest of the world, the BFA Annual
Conference has become an important platform for discussion and
debate on economic development in the Asian region. Among those
sharing their views at the opening ceremony on the opportunities
and challenges in Asia were Philippines President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, and Chairman of
Microsoft, Bill Gates.
The topics of innovation, sustainable development, new
technologies and increasing education investment dominated their
speeches.
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress, China's top legislature, also shared his views
on these topics. Wu pointed out in his keynote speech that Asia is
a vast continent with a time-honored history, splendid culture,
rich resources and a large population. Since 2000, Asia's GDP has
grown by over six percent annually, accounting for 20 percent of
global economic growth.
Today, Asia's economy, trade and foreign exchange reserves
respectively account for a quarter, a third and three quarters of
the world total. The implementation of sustainable development
practices in individual Asian countries has led to increasingly
closer economic links within the region, flourishing regional
dialogue and cooperation, expanding common interests, and a
heightened awareness of the Asian identity.
"Asia has become the most dynamic region with the greatest
development potential in the world and an engine driving world
economic growth," Wu said, adding: "The profound changes that are
taking place in Asia represent an important trend in human
progress. They reflect the aspiration of Asian people to build a
peaceful, cooperative and harmonious Asia."
The 2007 conference boasts the strongest lineup in the event's
history of entrepreneurs and thought leaders from the business
sector. The participation of some of the world's most outstanding
speakers has also attracted unprecedented media interest in the
conference. More than 400 journalists, half from outside China, are
covering the proceedings in Boao. Another first is that organizers
have teamed up with a number of leading international media,
including the BBC, the Financial Times and Bloomberg, to increase
media exposure of the forum and to raise its international
profile.
This year's theme is "Asia Winning in Today's Global Economy --
Innovation and Sustainable Development". Discussions will include
such heavyweight topics as the integration of the Middle East and
South Asia subcontinent into the Asian economy, and the balanced
development of China, India and other developing Asian nations.
There will also be workshops on energy, resources,
telecommunications, financial services, innovative industries,
corporate social responsibility and environmental protection.
As in previous years, there will also be a strong emphasis on
charity, with a series of fundraising activities to be held over
the weekend. The money raised will be used to provide financial
support for academically excellent children from disadvantaged
backgrounds or minority areas. In addition, a percentage of the
donations will be allocated to the reconstruction of the Jissa
Hugon Village Primary School, in the city of St. Bernard in the
Philippines.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the BFA Secretary
General said that organizers are looking to participants for "new
approaches and new ideas" on sustainable development in Asia.
"Sustainable development, the green agenda, the pace of economic
growth -- these are all very pertinent issues right now for
societies across Asia. Now is the time for thought leaders to
engage in an active exchange of ideas, pool their intellectual and
political resources, and chart the future course of Asian
development. And the BFA Annual Conference is the ideal venue for
that discourse."
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wang Qian April 21, 2007)
