Boao Forum to Boost Regional Cooperation and Prosperity

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), the first international meeting organization permanently based in Hainan Province, south China, will start to register members Thursday.

This was announced Wednesday at a reception for the opening of the BFA Beijing office and the launching of a membership drive.

Chinese vice premier Qian Qichen and Chen Jinhua, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Fidel Ramos, former president of the Philippines, and BFA Secretary-General Ajit Singh attended the reception.

Addressing the reception, Qian extended congratulations for the office-opening and membership drive-launch of BFA.

The current trend of the world is to pursue peace, cooperation, development and advancement, he said, noting that with the development of multi-polarism and economic globalization, regional cooperation has witnessed faster growth.

Qian pointed out that various regional cooperation mechanisms in Asia, governmental or non-governmental, should complement each other so as to move forward the common development of the region and the world at large.

BFA, as a international meeting organization, provides an appropriate platform for business and academic circles to conduct exchanges and enhance cooperation, and thus it is a good supplement to governmental cooperation, he stressed.

Qian noted that the founding of BFA has contributed to the cooperation between countries in Asia as well as that between Asia and the rest of the world.

As the chief representative of China in BFA Chen Jinhua pointed out that countries in Asia are faced with great opportunities for development as well as numerous challenges. Therefore, it is the common will of the Asian people to strengthen dialogue and seek cooperation, so as to bring benefits to all.

He said the establishment of BFA plays a conducive role in promoting the development and prosperity in Asia, as well as in intensifying exchange and cooperation between Asia and the rest of the world.

In his address to the reception, Ramos expressed his appreciation for the work China has done for BFA

Inaugurated in Boao, Qionghai City of Hainan Province, in February this year, BFA is an unofficial, non-profitable, open and regular international conference organization.

(Chinadaily.com.cn 08/30/2001)