Pakistan to attend Boao Forum in China this month

BEIJING: Pakistan and a number other countries will participate in the Boao Forum for Asia, scheduled to take place in Hainan province from March 26 to 29.

The theme this year is "Shared Future, Concerted Action, Common Development," Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will attend the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum and deliver a keynote speech next Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Friday. Republic of Korea Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Sao Tome and Principe Prime Minister Jorge Bom Jesus will also attend the conference.

According to BFA Secretary General Li Baodong, the theme and topics of this year's event cover a wide range of issues of common interest among stakeholders. The program was finalized after several rounds of discussion among BFA's initial countries, board members, advisers, partners and think tanks. Around this theme, the annual conference will feature approximately 50 official sessions, including the opening plenum, themed sessions, CEO dialogues and roundtable meetings. He stated that openness and innovation are natural choices to sustain economic progress and globalization.