(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-04 08:27

President Hu Jintao will next week welcome 10 heads of state to Hainan province for the 7th Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said yesterday at a press conference.

The guests are: King George Tupou V of Tonga; Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf; Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete; Chilean President Michelle Bachelet; Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar; Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa; Qatari Prime Minister Hamad; Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov; Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Hu will hold separate talks with each of the leaders and is expected to sign a number of cooperative agreements, Jiang said.

The president, who is attending the forum for the first time, will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, which will take place next Saturday, she said.

The speech will review China's achievements and experiences over the past 30 years of reform and opening up, reiterate the country's peaceful development strategy, and include proposals on the promotion of long-lasting peace in Asia, Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui said yesterday.

The theme of this year's event is "Green Asia: moving toward win-win through change".

The Boao Forum for Asia was established in 2001 as a platform for high-level economic discussions between leaders from Asia and around the world.

Iran nuke reports denied

Also at yesterday's press conference, Jiang denied media reports that China had provided the International Atomic Energy Agency with intelligence linked to Teheran's attempt to develop nuclear arms.

She reiterated China's stance on the peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiation.

"Under the current circumstances, relevant parties should exert creativity and show flexibility to seek ideas that are conducive to a comprehensive and long-term solution," Jiang said.

China will continue to work toward this goal, she said.