Secretary-General H.E. Mme Yang Xiuping Attended the Opening Ceremony of Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2017

On 25 March 2017, the opening ceremony of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2017 was held in Boao International Conference Centre. H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) attended the opening ceremony upon invitation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the Forum. H.E. Mr. Zhang Gaoli, Chinese Vice Premier, delivered a keynote speech, in which he made five suggestions: First, we should all be committed to peaceful development. Second, we should vigorously promote innovation-driven development. Third, we should lead the way toward open development. Fourth, we should actively pursue shared development. Fifth, we should strive to promote equitable development. He further pointed out that, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN, and the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and the ROK) cooperation mechanism. Regional cooperation in East Asia now stands at a new historical starting point. We should continue to deepen China-ASEAN cooperation, ASEAN Plus Three cooperation, Lancang-Mekong cooperation, East Asia Summit (EAS), Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and other regional cooperation processes. We should work for the full and effective implementation of the protocol for the upgrade of China-ASEAN FTA, conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at an early date, and push for the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) to lay a solid foundation for a community of shared future in Asia.

Director-General of the BFA Yasuo Fukuda delivered the welcoming speech. President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia Peter Christian, Prime Minister of Nepal Prachanda, Speaker of Wolesi Jirga of the National Assembly of Afghanistan Fazel Hadi Muslimyar, and Vice President of Myanmar Myint Swe, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. They expressed the views that Asia is the beneficiary of globalization and free trade. The parties should continue to strengthen cooperation, to realize the common development and prosperity of Asia and the world at large.