Baoao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2011 is to be held on April 13-16, 2011 at Boao in southern China Hainan province, under the theme of "Inclusive Development: Common Agenda & New Challenges". Asia has come to a crucial stage in the transformation and restructuring of its economies. It is leading the world out of the worst-ever economic crisis since the 1930s, but still confronted with the challenging task of finding a green and sustainable development path. Annual Conference 2011 is designed to bring the best minds and thought leaders together to focus on this great challenge.

Profile

As a non-government, non-profit international organization, Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is the most prestigious and premier forum for leaders in government, business and academia in Asia and other continents to share visions on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large. The Forum is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries even closer to their development goals.

Initiated in 1998 by former President of the Philippines Fidel V. Ramos, former Prime Minister of Australia Bob Hawke, and former Prime Minister of Japanand Morihiro Hosokawa, Boao Forum for Asia was formally inaugurated in February 2001. Countries across the region have responded with strong support and great enthusiasm, and the world has listened attentively to the voice coming from a tiny, quiet and scenic island at the southernmost part of China – Boao, the permanent site of the Annual Conference of the Forum since 2002.

History

The last half-century has been witness to remarkable progress made in economic and social development by Asian countries. As a result, Asia's influence in international and regional affairs has been increasing steadily. Thanks to the economic take-off in East Asia over the past two decades, which is perceived by the world as the East Asian miracle, the overall Asian economy has developed rapidly. This has made Asia prominent among the regions in the world, which have undergone the most dynamic economic development. Although Asia has suffered a lot from the financial crisis at the end of the twentieth century, the Asia economies are now back on a path of recovery and economic stability due to their capacity for self-adjustment and reform.