Diversified topics and value of culture

Although discussions about financial crisis and emerging economies take up more than one third of the topics, traditional themes such as green development and Internet innovation are also on the agenda.

The forum will for the first time add contemporary art and creative industry into the topic list, underlining Asia's resolution to explore new growth areas amid the economic restructuring.

"The crisis will generate more artistic imagination," said Wang Jian, an established cellist, referring to the value of culture in this region. He said that America and European countries still lack understanding of the profound and magnificent cultural tradition of China.

The unique culture in East Asia has been a main factor that turns the region into a global production and manufacturing base, according to Chen Zhiwu, a professor of Yela University."Mass production could be well organized through 'iron discipline'. East Asian and Southeast Asian societies, which are significantly influenced by the obedient culture of Confucian, might have accepted the concept of regarding people as screws in production organizations," he said.

However, the huge consumption potential of Asia is hard to realize due to many factors including an immature democracy system, he said, suggesting that the reform of the mechanisms of economy, politics and culture be accelerated.

BFA was established in 2001 as a platform for high-level interaction between leaders from Asia and around the world. It is aimed at promoting the development goals of Asian countries through greater regional economic integration.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2009)