BOAO (Hainan Province), April 19 (Xinhua) -- Director-General of the World Trade Organization Pascal Lamy praised the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) for promoting understanding and free trade between Asia and the rest of the world in a congratulatory letter to the BFA 2007 annual conference.

    "As the major organization of international trade relations, the WTO is encouraged to observe that the BFA is playing a more important role in increasing understanding and promoting free trade between Asia and the rest of the world," Lamy wrote.

    "As the emerging engine of global development, Asia has become more important in world trade. I am sure that the BFA is to be commended on this important initiative and its efforts to advance fair trade will benefit all the countries in Asia and the world as a whole," he wrote.

    The BFA 2007 annual conference is scheduled for April 20-22, with the theme "Asia Winning in Today's Global Economy: Innovation and Sustainable Development".