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)