The Bo'ao Forum for Asia (BFA) has provided Hainan Province with a rare opportunity to link the southern Chinese tropical island with other parts of the world, said Governor Wang Xiaofeng.

In an interview with journalists, Wang said the 7 million people of Hainan, are in high spirits because of the expected arrival of distinguished guests from all over the world and hope to provide best services to the guests who will attend the first BFA annual meeting scheduled to open in Bo'ao on the mid-eastern coast of Hainan from April 12-13.

Hainan, which used to fall under jurisdiction of Guangdong Province, became a province in its own right and the largest special economic zone in China in 1988.

"Hainan has been carrying out reform and opening-up policies since 1988 and has paid great attention to cooperation and to increasing economic, trade exchanges with businessmen from other countries," said Wang, noting that Hainan has the most beautiful scenery and the finest beaches in the world.

Establishment of the BFA is a major event in Hainan's opening-up drive and is of great significance in promoting Hainan's economic and social growth, its international cooperation, and in spurring domestic demand, in improving this southern Chinese island's recognition in the world, as well as in improving local investment environment, Governor Wang went on.

The infrastructure for the BFA annual meeting, as well as other supporting facilities, including those for telecommunications, transportation have all to be completed but will be ready for service during the meeting, according to Wang.

BFA, initiated in 1998 by former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke and former Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, is a non-profit and non-governmental, open international organization which holds regular conferences in Bo'ao.

The inaugural ceremony of the BFA was held in Bo'ao in February last year, during which BFA was officially launched. It is expected that this year's BFA annual conference will be attended by about 1,000 participants including state leaders, ministers, celebrities, scholars and business representatives.

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2002)