Source: Xinhuanet

04-20-2007 10:03

BOAO, Hainan Province, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) will add two more members to its 11-member board of directors, according to a resolution of the board adopted by a general meeting of BFA members here Thursday.

The two new members will be elected from among the Diamond members, Platinum members and Initial members of the BFA in a few months, said the resolution.

"We hope they will come from the Middle East or West Asia," said BFA Secretary-General Long Yongtu.

This move is aimed at enhancing the representativeness of the board, as BFA has been drawing worldwide attention and increasing numbers of participants along with the economic boom of Asia, analysts said.

In 2006, 850 participants from 39 countries and regions attended the BFA. Delegates from more countries and regions, including Saudi Arabia, will debut in this year's conference scheduled on April 20-22.

The BFA, an annual event for political, business and academic leaders from Asia and other parts of the world, shall cover the whole of Asia to make up for the vacuum left by ASEAN and APEC, which do not cover south, central and west Asia, Long said.

The current board of directors, serving as top policy-makers for the non-governmental organization, comes from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines and Sweden. The new board of directors will have a term of three years.

Editor:Li Yang