BEIJING: Where should humanity go from here? What kind of future should we create for future generations? Chinese President Xi Jinping raised these questions during his keynote speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference on April 20, citing the backdrop that the combined forces of changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century have brought the world into a phase of fluidity and transformation.
“As we try to answer these important questions, it is crucial that we bear in mind the shared interests of mankind and make responsible and wise choices,” Xi said.
To better answer the call of the times, experts, officials and business leaders shared their insights at sessions held during the conference on multiple issues. They believe that an Asian approach should be adopted to promote regional cooperation and China should further contribute to global economic recovery by promoting cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and opening wider.
Vision for Asia
“Over these two decades, Asian countries have advanced regional economic integration and worked in unison to pursue both economic and social development, which has turned Asia into the most vibrant and promising region in the global economy,” Xi said.
Asian countries share the hope for peace, development, and openness though they have developed different political systems and religious traditions along their own historical trajectories, and find themselves at different stages of economic development. How to promote regional cooperation was a hot topic for discussion during the conference.
In recent years, the role of Asia in spurring on global economic growth and promoting the reform of the global governance system has become increasingly significant.
In 2020, Asian countries accounted for 47.3 percent of the world economy, up 0.9 percentage point from a year ago, as calculated by purchasing power parity, according to the Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report 2021 published during the conference. The report predicts that in 2021, the Asian economy will improve by more than 6.5 percent.
However, participants pointed out that the economic recovery of Asia still faces multiple challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors.
Under these circumstances, Fu Ying, former Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, said at one session that it is even more necessary for Asian countries to work together in dealing with various challenges, learning from each other’s strengths, and enhancing communication to move forward together.
– The Daily Mail-Beijing Review News exchange item
