In the afternoon of March 31, 2012, Vice Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang held talks with the members of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committee of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) who were attending the BFA annual conference 2012 in Boao, Hainan.
Li extended congratulations on the smooth work and rising international influence and popularity of the BFA. He said that the annual conference 2012 will discuss and gather consensus on the theme of Asia in the Changing World: Toward Sound and Sustainable Development. It will boost the development of Asia and promote Asia's cooperation with other regions in the world.
After listening to the speeches made by Chairman of the Board and former Prime Minister of Japan Yasuo Fukuda, Chairman of the Advisory Committee and former President of the Philippines Fidel Ramos, member of the Board and Senior Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong and member of the Board and former Treasury Secretary of the US Henry Paulson, Li said that the BFA has been following the purpose of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation for many years to make advices on Asian cooperation and tackling the global challenges and played an important role in Asia's development.
He pointed out that Asia's growth need to both enhance the endogenous vigor and strengthen the cooperation with other regional countries from a global perspective faced with the complex international situation where opportunities and challenges coexist. All the economies in the world face the main task of recovery. The priority of Asian countries is development. It is very important for emerging economies and developed countries to share experience of handling the crisis. We should focus on the immediate needs of stable recovery and take a long-term perspective to boost the strong, sustained and balanced growth and healthy development.
He hopes the annual conference 2012 discusses the major pressing issues faced by Asia and emerging economies and comes out with more targeted "Boao views" and "Boao initiatives". As the host country, China is willing to work with all the relevant parties to continue to provide support and help for the BFA.
Members of the BFA Board and Advisory Committee said that Asia enjoys a rising status and role in the world. They will make continuous efforts to make the BFA a success, further expand its influence, gather wisdom of all sides and make greater contributions to the development of Asia and the world at large.
Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Representative of China Zeng Peiyan was present at the above-mentioned activities.
Established in 2001, the BFA is an unofficial and non-profit regional international organization. The BFA annual conference is regularly held in Boao, Hainan. So far, ten annual conferences have been held. With the theme of Asia in the Changing World: Toward Sound and Sustainable Development, the annual conference 2012 was conducted in Boao from April 1 to 3.