BFOA Preparatory Committee Meeting Ends in HainanThe preparatory committee meeting of the Boao Forum of Asia (BFOA) closed Monday at Boao Township in south China's island province of Hainan.Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Chen Jinhua, former Filipino President Fidel Ramos, former Australian Prime Minister Robert Hawke and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone were elected BFOA chairmen at the meeting. Also at the meeting, the BFOA Declaration was passed. The declaration expounds BFOA's perspective goal to develop itself as the most important forum in Asia and promote business and economic integration among Asian countries along with the speeding up of globalization. In addition, the secretariat structure of the Boao Forum ofAsia was also passed and Ajit Singh, former secretary-general of ASEAN, was appointed secretary-general of BFOA. The meeting also discussed and passed the guidance for the BFOA Charter and the Intellectual Support for the BFOA. Chen Jinhua, Fidel Ramos, Robert Hawke, Yasuhiro Nakasone delivered speeches at the meeting along with former Tajikistan Prime Minister Izzatullo Hayoev, former Nepal Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista and Kingsley T Wichamaratna, former minister of Internal and External Trade, Commerce and Food of Sri Lanka. Chen pointed out to face the challenge of economic globalization, it is necessary to establish a forum for high-level dialogue on Asian economy and development so as to promote dialogue and cooperation among Asian countries and strengthen ties between Asia and the rest of the world. |
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