China will continue to support the annual Boao Forum for Asia because it plays an important role in boosting regional co-operation, one of its key advocates has said.

This year's Boao conference, which was postponed due to SARS from its original dates in May, will be held on November 2-3 at Boao in South China's Hainan Province.

But Chen Jinhua, China's chief representative to the Boao Forum for Asia, told China Daily in an exclusive interview on Friday the meeting would do justice to its theme of "Asia Searching for Win-Win: Development Through Co-operation.''

China has spent a total of 1.5 billion yuan (US$180.7 million) on infrastructure in Boao, including a 38,000-square-metre conference centre, a new five-star hotel, a golf course and club.

Important issues of common concern in Asia will be covered in four sub-conferences, three themed conferences, 12 sub-topics, and plenary meetings at the Boao forum, Chen said.

About 1,000 participants, including government leaders from Asia, successful business leaders and economists from multinational corporations and universities around the world, are expected at the event.

Chen said China will send high-ranking officials and representatives to discuss multiple topics and explore opportunities for further co-operation with other Asian countries or regions.

The secretariat for the Boao forum has confirmed that Premier Wen Jiabao, leading a Chinese Government delegation, will participate in the conference.

China formally joined the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia after summit meetings of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali of Indonesia.

Chen added that the Boao Forum for Asia hosted by China could build upon the summit meeting in Bali.

China made a major diplomatic step forward by joining the treaty, he said.

The move reflected the world's trend towards globalization and regional co-operation and met Asian countries' expectations of China.

Chen said the participants of the forum could discuss issues such as China's exchange rate, trade with China, investment, co-operation in manufacturing, environmental protection and economic assistance. They could also take advice from Chinese officials, entrepreneurs and scholars.

Owing to historical, cultural, religious, social and economic differences, the Asian regional integration process has lagged behind the same process in Europe and North America, Chen noted.

He called on Asian countries to participate in regional economic co-operation. Chen said China will play an important role in this process and, together with other Asian countries, contribute to Asia's prosperity and development.

The Boao Forum for Asia was established in February 2001 as a non-government and non-profit-making international organization. It has evolved into a high-level platform for Asian leaders from the government, business and academia to express their views on development trends in Asia and the world.

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