Special Report: Boao Forum for Asia 2008

Chinese President Hu Jintao delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 12, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BOAO, Hainan, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday made a five-point proposal for Asian countries to increase cooperation.

    Addressing the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference, Hu said Asia remains one of the world's most dynamic regions while it also faces some challenges. To realize lasting peace and common prosperity in Asia is a long-term and arduous task, he said.

    To achieve this goal, he called on the Asian countries to take the following steps:

    -- First, enhance political mutual trust. We should seek common ground and shelve differences and live in harmony on the basis of mutual respect and equality. We should resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation. We should respect each other's security concerns, follow the new thinking on security featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, promote the development of regional security mechanism, and work together to address security threats and maintain peace and stability in the region.

    -- Second, deepen economic cooperation. We should promote regional free trade arrangements and investment facilitation mechanisms, deepen fiscal and financial cooperation and enhance infrastructure interconnectivity across Asia. The Asian countries should strengthen coordination of macro-economic policies and jointly uphold financial, energy and food security. We should step up cooperation in poverty alleviation and human resources development, narrow gaps in development and promote common development and prosperity in the region.

    -- Third, meet challenges together. We should oppose terrorism in all manifestations and strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and non-proliferation. We should join hands to fight transnational crimes, illegal immigration and drug trafficking. We should increase cooperation in disaster prevention and reduction and public health. We should strengthen capacity for tackling climate change and promote exchange and cooperation in environmental protection and the proper use of water resources in a joint effort to foster a conservation culture in Asia.

    -- Fourth, increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges. We should carry out cultural exchanges of diverse forms and strengthen dialogue among different civilizations and promote contact and cooperation among parliaments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and the media of the Asian countries. Youth exchanges should also be strengthened to increase mutual understanding among the young people. And we should work together to ensure the dynamic growth of the Asian culture.

    -- Fifth, keep to the policy of openness. Regional cooperation should remain non-exclusive. We should draw on the development practices of other regions and use platforms such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Asia-Europe Meeting, Forum for East Asia and Latin America Cooperation, and Asia-Middle East Dialogue to enhance dialogue and cooperation with other regions and achieve common progress through extensive exchanges and cooperation with the rest of the world.

    The BFA, annually held in Boao of south China's island province of Hainan, was established in 2001 as a platform for high-level interaction between leaders from Asia and the world.