Boao Forum for Asia Opens with Theme of Inclusive Development

Chinese President Hu Jintao called for inclusive development in Asia as he attended the opening ceremony of the 2011 annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia.

This year's meeting adopted the theme of "Inclusive Development: Common Agenda and New Challenges". Hu Jintao and leaders from other countries discussed about how to realize the common development of Asia, tackle with the challenges and achieve economic prosperity in the region.

CRI's Wei Tong has more.

Hu Jintao says Asia's development contributes to China's prosperity and vice versa, and that the country will always place the diplomatic relations with Asia on top priority.

"In the past decades, Asia has witnessed a rapid economic growth with progress in the regional cooperation and ever growing international impact. Asia was the first to get its economy stabilized in the global financial crisis and recover from it and it has become a major engine to drive the world economy to a recovery and growth."

Hu Jintao reiterates that the Asian countries need to seek common ground while shelving differences, achieve mutual benefits and win-win results as well as deepening regional cooperation. Meanwhile, Asian nations should intensify macro-economic policy coordination so as to expand common interest and promote regional development.

"Large countries should support small ones, rich countries should help poor ones and all should help each other so as to seize opportunities and tackle challenges together. We hope the Asian countries can share the benefits achieved from the regional economic prosperity."

Hu Jintao adds in the next five years, China will focus more on imports to achieve macro-economic balance and economic restructuring. Meantime, China will expand its investment in Asia and other emerging nations and increase assistance to the developing world.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for Asia-Pacific countries to get access to the economic integrity process so as to achieve balanced economic development. He hails the inclusive development of great significance.

"In order to reach the goal of inclusive development, we must step up the democratic process of international relations as well as building up a fair new political and economic order. The key point is to reform the global financial system."

South African President Jacob Zuma said his country is among the developing world and has very close economic links with many Asian countries. He suggested the developing world needs to work together in sustainable development and tackling challenges.

"Economically, the phenomenal development has been the rise of the economical giants of the South. Clearly, these new developments require that we work on managing global inter-dependencies and strengthen cooperation in order to overcome common tragedies and take advantage of opportunities. Some of the challenges we must confront together relate to sustainable development, climate change, energy security, peace, trade and finance."

The Boao Forum for Asia, founded in 2001, marked its tenth anniversary. It is a non-government platform for global political, business and academic leaders. During the three-day session, 1,400 participants from political and business sectors will focus on topics including prospect of world economy, capital flow, China's 12th five-year plan and growth of specific industries.

For CRI, I am Wei Tong.