The second annual conference of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia (BTF) successfully concluded on Monday at Bo'ao, a picturesque town on southernmost China's Hainan Province.

With the theme of "Asia Searching for Win-Win: Development through Co-operation," the two-day meeting brought together more than 1,200 delegates from all over the world, including current and former heads of state and government, entrepreneurs and scholars, providing a high-level venue of dialogue for them to discuss economic, social, environmental and other related issues in Asia.

Raising Asia's voice on the world arena, the forum can undoubtedly contribute to the continent's ongoing regional integration process and the interaction among its members and between the region and the rest of the world.

The accelerated regional integration process in Asia has promoted the establishment of Bo'ao forum that is aimed to facilitate ever-growing economic co-operation among its members and between members and non-members.

Asia has become the locomotive of the world economy since the turn of the 21st century. The growth rate of trade in the region is continuously increasing, the total volume of trade currently accounts for one quarter of the world total; its value of foreign exchange reserve remains high and has exceeded half of the world total.

However, compared with the European Union and North America, Asia is lagging behind in regard to regional integration due to historical, cultural and religious factors.

Asia does have some sub-regional institutions, such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Shanghai Co-operation Organization. But it lacks a regional economic organization that covers the whole continent.

Based on mutual trust and mutual benefit, closer co-operation between Asian nations is the only way to create a win-win situation for the development of this region.

With the acceleration of the globalization process, Asia cannot rejuvenate in isolation from the rest of the world.

To persist in openness and co-operation with the rest of the world is a must for Asia.

A prosperous and stable Asia, in turn, will contribute to the peace and development of the world.

(China Daily November 4, 2003)