The sitting of the Boao Forum in the island province of Hainan suggests that China wishes to gain a pole position in the development of the regional economy.

The annual convention of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) has become an increasingly prestigious event ever since the forum was first launched in 2001. It is a significant component of China's increasing regional diplomatic profile, geared towards mutual economic cooperation and confidence-building. This year, a host of government leaders from Asia-Pacific nations will be attending, demonstrating that Boao is now a prominent element on the diplomatic calendar.

The timing of the forum is especially propitious for China. After a month largely spent looking inwards, in the context of the major annual NPC and CPPCC sessions, China now has the opportunity to turn to its international relations with a flourish. Attendance at Boao is not strictly limited to regional representatives; even the prime minister of Namibia, in southern Africa, will be attending, as will a number of retired government leaders whose experience will be valuable to their successors.

Of course the attendance of so many senior international figures will allow for a great deal of bilateral diplomacy in the margins. A broad selection of regional and international business leaders, as well as a spread of media organizations, will add further interdisciplinary elements to the discussions and networking opportunities.

Yet the forum itself carries a multilateral economic focus, aimed at concentrating on the common interests of all participants. This year's theme is "Asia's New Future: Identifying New Growth Drivers." The idea of a "new future" is thought-provoking; should that perhaps be contrasted with an "old future"? Nevertheless, projections for the future are indeed constantly changing as a result of the speed of development, especially in the Asian region. Additionally, the focus on "new growth drivers" encourages a detailed study of those elements likely to produce this growth, rather than limiting the discussion to general principles and aspirations.