A Vietnamese representative to the 2014 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference has said that the future of Asia and its growth drivers are only significant when the environment in the region is peaceful, stable and cooperative.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam was addressing the opening session of the conference in China’s southern province of Hainan on April 10. The event brought together 1,500 delegates, including leaders from more than 10 countries and renowned scholars.

He said nations, big or small, rich or poor, need a stable environment for development. Every dispute and conflict needs to be solved by peaceful measures in compliance with international law and with sincerity and trust.

Win-win cooperation, mutual respect and trust, and responsibility-sharing in common issues are indispensable for the region and the whole world to secure sustainable growth, Dam stressed.

Vietnam is sparing no effort to work together with other nations and partners in that spirit and towards that goal, he noted.

The Vietnamese official raised the fact that Asia is embarking on a mission to grow strongly not only for itself but also for its increasingly important part in addressing common issues of human beings.

According to him, Asian economies looking towards inclusive and sustainable growth are to suit the common trend in the world.

To seek a new direction and a new development model backed by sustainable growth, creativeness is needed and considered, together with technological renovation, as a driver, Deputy PM Dam said.

He elaborated that during the process, connectivity among economies and regions should be sped up through cooperation frameworks like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other free trade agreements.

The 2014 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference is being held with the theme "Asia's New Future: Identifying New Growth Drivers".

The four-day forum is expected to discuss issues related to renovation, creativeness and sustainable development.

Political and security issues, internet security and China-US relations will also be high on the agenda.-VNA