Updated: 2008-01-24 11:33

Beijing - Mr. Long Yongtu, Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), today announced that the BFA Annual Conference 2008 will be held between April 11th and 13th in the scenic seaside town of Boao, Hainan Province, China.

Now in its eighth year, the BFA Annual Conference has become the pre-eminent international economic forum in Asia, hosting over one thousand high profile pacesetters from across the globe.

At a press conference this afternoon, Mr. Long also unveiled the theme for this year’s event: Green Asia, Moving towards Win-Win through Changes. This topical theme will offer participants a chance to discuss the challenges and opportunities influencing the region’s environmental future. Over the three days of the 2008 Annual Conference participants will debate the move towards energy efficiency, how to secure Asia’s future through renewable energy sources, and how the private sector can contribute to improving the environment.

 “This year’s Annual Conference promises to be the best ever,” said Mr. Long. “There has never been a more important time for a discussion of Asia’s environmental future, and I’m delighted that this year we will be welcoming so many global thought leaders to address this crucial issue. I genuinely believe that through this collaborative effort we can forge new alliances and develop common approaches that will have a strong and lasting impact right throughout the region.”

The 2008 event will have added significance as China marks the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the Reform and Opening Up Policy, a major milestone in China’ s history, and one that set the country on the course to its current economic success.

Commenting on the importance of the anniversary for China, Mr. Long noted: “So much has changed in the years since China opened its economy to the world. As such, this year’s Annual Conference will offer leaders from business, government and academia an opportunity to reflect on how far China has come over the last thirty years, as well as a chance to prepare for the many formidable changes and challenges that will face China - and the entire Asian region - over the next three decades.”

Also today, the BFA Secretariat announced its major sponsors for the Conference including Volvo Group, Evonik Industries AG, SK Group, Merrill Lynch, Tata Group, Shanghai GM, Mengniu Dairy, and Moutai, Deloitte, PMI, Lenovo, Starbucks, New Fortune and Asian Development and etc. The growing list of corporate giants involved with this year’s event reflects the rising influence globally and importance of the BFA organization and its annual event in Hainan. Some of them have been supporting BFA for long such as Merrill Lynch, Deloitte, Lenovo, New Fortune, while some are newcomers such as Volvo, Evonik Industries AG and PMI.

“It’s an honour for Evonik to be associated with the Boao Forum for Asia,” said Dr. Yu Dahai, President, Greater China Region of Evonik Industries AG, “Over the past seven years, we’ve seen the Annual Conference develop into one of the key events in Asia’s corporate calendar, an occasion for discussion and debate between luminaries from every sector of society, and decisions that will influence the future of the entire region. We are very pleased to be a part of that and proud to be able to lend our support to the 2008 Annual Conference.”

This year will also see BFA extending its media reach, with Bloomberg, Fortune Times, BBC World, Time and website partner QQ.com sealing strategic partnerships with BFA. In addition, BFA will continue its highly successful relationship with Deloitte, its long-term partner in intellectual support. Also maintaining its partnership with the event will be Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, who will work with BFA to build the profile of the Annual Conference on the international stage. Both Deloitte and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, together with other stakeholders of BFA, are assisting BFA as part of a major effort over the next five years to reposition the organization to complement its growth strategy.