The annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia opened in Hainan , China on April 15, drawing the participation of over 1,400 political and business leaders, and scholars around the world.

Chinese President Hu Jintao opened the meeting, calling on Asian countries to transform the development pattern and promote all-round development.

“We should transform the economic development pattern in keeping with global trends, restructure our economies, build capacity for scientific and technological innovation, and develop the green economy,” he said.

As the second decade of the 21st century dawns, Asia is at a new starting point in its development, he stressed, adding that as the trend toward multi-polarity and economic globalisation deepens the people of Asia have the major task of maintaining both development and stability.

This year’s forum discusses over 20 topics relating to prospect for post-crisis economic development, role of Group 20, international financial system reform, financial supervision in Europe and the US, investment flows, as well as China’s 12 th five-year plan and development of specific industries.

Launched in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) has become a huge international economic centre and is dubbed “Davos of Asia”./.