Boao Forum for Asia kicks off

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2013 opened on April 7 in China’s southern province of Hainan.
The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2013 opened on April 7 in China’s southern province of Hainan.

Themed “Asia Seeking Development for All: Restructuring,Responsibility and Cooperation”, this year’s event attracted theparticipation of nine heads of state and government leaders as well as2,000 delegates from Asia and the world.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Asiahas the strongest vitality and highest potential for development inthe world. Its growth is closely attached to the development of othercontinents, he said.

However, the Chinese Presidentsaid the region also faces many challenges, and the settling ofdifferences remains a primary task. It is crucial to shift the method ofdevelopment, adjust the economic structure and increase developmentquality and efficiency, therefore improving people’s living conditions,said Xi.

Besides, Asia’s stability is also facingnew challenges, including emerging hot spots, complex developments oftraditional and non-traditional security threats, which require allregional countries to enhance mutual trust and increase joint efforts,he said.

Meanwhile, BFA Secretary General Zhu WenZhong was pessimistic about the current global economy. He warned ofconflicting voices among regional countries caused by tradeprotectionism, and called on multinational development cooperation.

The thee-day event comprises of 51 seminars on various topics,including model shifting, development orientation renovation, povertyreduction, currency policies and regional cooperation.

Initiated by 25 Asian countries and Australia, the BFA wasofficially established in February, 2011 as an informal and non-profitinternational organisation.-VNA

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