By Zhai Kun (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-16 07:27

This author once compared the Boao Forum for Asia's annual conference to a chronicle of Asia's rejuvenation. Many authoritative observers have held the view that "Asia has always kept advancing despite setbacks" since the end of World War II. And former Philippine President Fidel Ramos and a few other Asian leaders proposed the establishment of the Boao forum at the turn of the century.

The 2008 annual conference is no doubt worth much attention, as China marks 30 years of economic reform and opening-up, while Hainan province celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. President Hu Jintao delivered the keynote speech. The attendance at this annual gathering set new records for both in terms of the number of guests and their caliber. The organizational and operational skills are more mature, and its function as a booster for Asia's rejuvenation is more powerful than ever.

The Boao Asia forum currently plays three major visible roles

It is in this forum where Asia's policies are unveiled. It is usually held in April or May, a convenient time for Chinese leaders to announce the country's domestic and foreign policies. They take turns to attend the opening ceremony of the annual conference and deliver keynote speeches suggesting ways for Asia to achieve joint successes.

This year, President Hu Jintao announced three important policy directions in his keynote speech. They indicated China's policy of adhering to reform and opening up and achieving joint successes through cooperation. The first is China's road ahead. "China's future rests on reform and opening up". The second is China's relations with the rest of Asia. "China is willing to join other Asian countries in seizing every opportunity, handling challenges and realizing peace, development, cooperation and opening in Asia". Last but not the least is China's relations with the rest of the world - "(China) will always follow the path of peaceful development, apply the strategy of opening up and mutual benefits of joint successes and push for a harmonious world of lasting peace and universal prosperity".

It is where Asian thinking makes waves. The West seems to have always believed that Asia lacks the kind of thinking that can point the way for the world. The Boao Forum for Asia has become a stage for Asian thinking to shine. The theme for this year is "Green Asia: Moving toward win-win through changes".

The theme of every annual conference since 2002 was in tune with Asia's pulse at the time. The philosophy of policy making has been maturing, with mounting emphases on establishing "economic cooperation and development" as Asia's new task in the new century. The idea is to advance development through cooperation, emphasize an "Asia that is open to the world" and focus on "Asia's new role", and "new opportunities". The goal is to raise Asia's competitiveness through reforms and innovations and through sustainable development.

It is where the strategy for Asia's "joint successes" is decided. A general lack of broad and effective mechanism to coordinate sustainable development is partly to blame for delayed development and regional instability in Asia after World War II. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, founded in 1989, in a way represented a breakthrough in this regard. After the 1997 financial meltdown regional cooperation in Asia became multi-level, multi-directional and more open.

The Boao Forum for Asia came into being just when it was needed. Elite members of all walks of life gather in the resort on Hainan every spring to discuss the most urgent issues facing Asia's sustainable development.

This year the forum invited Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change R K Pachauri over to discuss joint efforts in fighting climate change. The co-winner of last year's Nobel Prize for Economics, Princeton University Professor Eric Maskin, was there to share his thoughts on the US subprime mess.

The forum has also formed a multi-dimensional mechanism of coordination, involving civilians as well as governments and combining strong points of all members. This has helped boost the integration of Asian economies significantly, enable Asian nations and regions to increase lateral communication, enhance their ability to jointly deal with non-traditional security threats, and narrow the gaping ideological differences among Asia countries. All this will heighten the sense of belonging in Asia and strengthen the bond between Asia and the rest of the world.

No less significant is the fact that the chief executives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region attended almost all annual conferences so far, while Hsiao Wan-chang, who represents Taiwan province, has also become a familiar figure at the annual gathering. He has been quoted by the Taiwan media as saying that so many business executives in Taiwan wanted to tag along that "lifting the phone was too exhausting for his hand".

President Hu Jintao said during his talks with Hsiao over the weekend, "That so many dignitaries from around the world are here for the annual conference shows in a way the common wish of Asian nations and regions for more exchanges, cooperation and joint successes, and also offers us important pointers for thinking over cross-Straits economic exchange and cooperation".

In my opinion, one of the pointers is probably the fact that the Boao Forum for Asia is the only venue where non-government organizations from the mainland, the Taiwan province, Hong Kong and Macao can meet regularly. Later on, the forum may also play the role of a catalyst to create an "economic zone around China" that includes all four sides mentioned above.

The budding forum has already exhibited noteworthy brain power, creativity and workability. In his speech at this year's annual gathering, Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt called the forum the Asian version of Davos (the Swiss ski resort that hosts the World Economic Forum). I would dare say, however, the Boao Forum for Asia will surely surpass Davos in terms of its roles and missions.

The author is deputy director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies under China Institute of Contemporary International Relations

(China Daily 04/16/2008 page8)