Among the attendees at the forum were a number of high-profile international figures. These included Max Baucus, American Ambassador to China, Bill Owens, vice chairman of the New York Stock Exchange for Asia and chairman of AEA Investors Asia, and the former Laos Ambassador to China Sha Zukang, who attended to discuss China-US relations. The former head of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs hosted the Net security discussion.

Zhou pointed out that the growing number of government VIPs in attendance helps the forum to break down political barriers and arrive at more useful conclusions.

Far-reaching influence

Chinese premier Li Keqiang proposed three principles at Boao: commit to the overarching goal of common development and build an Asian community of shared interests; foster a general environment for integrated development and form an Asian community of common destiny; and maintain a general environment of peaceful development and build an Asian community of shared responsibilities. Zhou observed that Li's observations had attracted considerable interest.

Chinese leaders provided key information on China's deepening reform at the forum, and also indicated the direction for future reform, and major measures likely to be implemented. These included the launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, which will have great significance to the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges. Other agreements reached and common views expressed by the forum's entrepreneurs will certainly exert an influence over their governments.

China's far-sighted plan to revive the Silk Road is a measure intended not only to step up the pace of reform, but also to strengthen economic ties with other countries along the path of the Silk Road.

The article is edited and translated from 《周文重:博鳌亚洲论坛展望“亚洲新未来”》, source: People's Daily Online