The
Boao Forum
for Asia (BFA) has been a valuable supplement to cooperation
among Asian countries, and will enjoy a bright future through their
concerted efforts, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Friday.
As
the host of the forum, China wishes to give continuous support
within its own capacity to the forum for its sound development, Zhu
said at the forum's first annual conference which opened Friday
morning in Boao, a town on the eastern coast of China's Hainan
Island.
Since BFA, a non-governmental and non-profit international
organization with a permanent location, was inaugurated in February
last year, the international political and economic situations have
undergone great changes, the premier noted.
With the theme of "New Century, New Challenge, A New Asia", this
annual conference gives explicit expression to the objective of the
forum: to be an Asia-based, globally-envisioned venue for
discussions on development, and fully reflects the common
aspiration of the Asian countries to strengthen dialogue, enhance
mutually beneficial cooperation and promote prosperity.
Zhu said that China stands readily to work together with Asian
countries, as well as countries in other parts of the world and
people from various circles who care for Asia, and to commit itself
to building a thriving new Asia.
(China
Daily April 12, 2002)