Thaindian News

Boao (China), April 15 (IANS) Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday called for inclusive development in Asia and said people of the continent had the major task of maintaining both development and stability.

As the second decade of the 21st century dawns upon us, Asia is at a new starting point in its development, Hu said at the opening ceremony of the 2011 annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).

“As the trend toward multi-polarity and economic globalization deepens, the people of Asia have the major task of maintaining both development and stability,” he said while delivering the keynote speech at the forum’s opening ceremony in China’s southern town of Boao.

“That is why the theme of this year’ s BFA annual conference — Inclusive Development: Common Agenda and New Challenges — is so relevant,” said the president.

Xinhua reported that it was the third time the president was attending the Boao Forum, a non-government platform for global political, business and academic leaders. He had delivered speeches at the annual Boao Forum meetings in 2004 and 2008 respectively.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, South African President Jacob Zuma, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Zapatero and Ukrainian Prime Minister Mikola Azarov will attend the forum.

“Asians belong to one family,” said the Chinese leader, adding that the people of Asia have a shared mission to promote common development and build a harmonious Asia.

Hu proposed that Asian countries respect diversity of civilization and promote good-neighbourly relations.

The Asian countries need to transform their economic development pattern in keeping with global trends, restructure their economies, build capacity for scientific and technological innovation, and develop the green economy, said the president.

“We need to focus on both the speed and quality of development, and ensure both efficiency and quality,” he added.

“We need to integrate our effort to develop the economy with that to improve people’s well-being, and achieve coordinated economic and social development,” he added.