BEIJING, April 22 -- The ongoing 2006 Boao Asia Forum, held in its name-sake home city in South China's Hainan Province, has chosen the theme of "Asia in Search of Common Prosperity New Opportunities for Asia," which reflects the reality of Asian countries and the aspiration of all Asian people.

    Asian countries today have on their shoulders the all-important historical task of common security, common development and common prosperity.

    Asia boasts an immense wealth of human, geopolitical and natural resources coupled with unique and attractive cultural characteristics that have been enriched over thousands of years. The continent occupies almost one-third of the world's land area and accounts for more than half of the world's population. The extraordinary role Asia plays in world peace and development makes Asian people proud.

    As complex and varied as Asian countries are in national well-being, it is not a hereditary weakness to have such diversity. The well-known and time-tested Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence was born on this politically diverse continent for a reason.

    Asian people have learned from their painful experiences as victims of aggression and war to deeply appreciate the value of peace, the urgency of development and the importance of co-operation.

    The overwhelming majority of Asian nations subscribe to the principle of joint development, understand that Asia's regional peace and stability cannot be without exchanges and co-operation, and their prosperity and development cannot be without unity and self-motivation. It is certainly possible for Asian countries to gradually narrow the gap between the developed and developing members of the community despite the relentless reality.

    Asia has its own unique conditions for economic co-operation, which are evolving. It is moving from just bilateral to bilateral with regional co-operation at different levels. No longer is the continent merely operating on trade and investment alone, but now, there is a combination of trade, investment, currency and finance. The Asian nations are moving from non-systematic to combined non-systematic and systematic co-operation.

    Today the most robust economic entities, markets with the most potential and the largest energy reserves of the world, are all located in Asia. The continent's place in the world's economy is growing everyday, while its influence and role in the world are also expanding. With joint efforts by all Asian nations, a new reality characterized by equal, diversified, open and mutually beneficial co-operation is taking shape in the region.

    Asian nations have survived numerous adversities by helping one another. People do not have to be reminded of 1997 when the region was roiled in the financial storm and nations helped each other out of heart-felt concern. It is not easily forgotten how the countries rushed to assist the stricken after the devastating tsunami hit South Asia the end of 2004. The spirit of co-operation was fully tested in those two great catastrophes.

    It should be noted that the rapid development of economic co-operation and marked improvement of political relations among Asian countries have been achieved simultaneously.

    As is true in any country, social harmony can only be realized when the gap between the rich and poor is narrowed down. Harmonious international relations can be built up only when the gap between rich and poor neighbours is significantly reduced.

    Also, political parties play an important role in their own country's political, economic, cultural and foreign relations with other nations, as well as in fostering international relations and promoting understanding and friendship between different people groups. The successful proceeding of three conferences by Asian political parties serves as a qualified proof.

    Regional development in Asia depends on the protection of a security mechanism, hence the growing need for regional integration. In today's world, no country can survive solely on its own strength, which is why it takes collective efforts to achieve the goal of forming an "Asian Alliance" as soon as possible.

    The peaceful rise of many Asian countries, including China, is drawing attention from around the world. A synonym of peaceful development, the phrase is not only a beautiful concept, but also a common desire of all Asian nations.

    China is pursuing peaceful development to shake off poverty and weakness, to achieve the nation's advance to an even higher level with all necessary means and an undying will to succeed. It is speeding up social and economic development under a secure and stable condition as well as a desirable environment both neighbourly and globally.