On the other hand, the Boao Forum has also become an effective channel to improve relationships across the Taiwan Strait. With more and more leaders from Taiwan attending the Boao Forum and other activities in the mainland, both sides of the Strait have come to know one another better, and misunderstandings have been greatly reduced. Cooperation has drastically increased on both the economy and in other fields. Both Taiwan and the mainland are seeing early results from the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, a lasting propeller for relations across the Taiwan Strait.

The Boao Forum has been practicing norms which are in line with the UN Charter and international rules that most of Asian countries respect and abide by. More importantly, the Boao Forum always seeks to promote cooperation among the countries. All the parties in the Boao Forum can obtain benefits without any harm to their interests. This is the very reason why so many parties do not hesitate to participate in the conference.

The Boao Forum is becoming a useful mechanism pooling collective wisdom of Chinese and other experts, who are eager to achieve economic prosperity, political trust, security confidence, and social-cultural integration. China will continue to support the Forum because it is imperative for China to contribute to making as many countries or regions peaceful and developed as possible if China also hopes to develop peacefully within a safe and stable regional and international environment.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn For more information please visit

http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/node_7075407.htm

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