The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) will soon expand its board of
directors from 11 to 13, after a board resolution was passed by a
general meeting of BFA members in Boao Thursday.
The two new members will be elected among the BFA's Diamond,
Platinum and Initial members in the coming months, said the
resolution.
"We hope they will come from the Middle East or West Asia," said
BFA Secretary-General Long Yongtu.
This move will seek to boost the overall proportional
representation of the board, given the global attention BFA's
increasing clout and relevance has been attracting, analysts
explained.
In 2006, 850 participants from 39 countries and regions attended
the BFA but this figure will expand as more delegates from new
countries and regions, such as Saudi Arabia, will attend this
year's conference running from April 20-22.
The BFA, an annual event gathering political, business and
academic leaders from around the world, aims to provide debate and
solutions for all of Asia since ASEAN and APEC omit the interests
of south, central and west Asia, Long said.
The current board of directors, acting as senior policy-makers
for the non-governmental organization, gathers individuals from
China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, Kazakhstan,
the Philippines and Sweden. The directors are appointed to the
board for a term of three years.
(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2007)