On the morning of April 3, 2008, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui held a media briefing for Chinese and foreign journalists, introducing the state affair activities to be held by President Hu Jintao in Hainan and President Hu's attendance of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2008.

Zhang said that President Hu is invited to attend the opening ceremony of the BFA Annual Conference 2008. Before the opening ceremony, President Hu will hold state affair activities for King George Tupou V of Tonga, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet who are invited to pay state visits to China and attend the BFA Annual Conference 2008 from April 10 to 12 in Sanya, Hainan. President Hu will also meet other guests who are invited to attend the BFA Annual Conference, including Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hamad, Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Zhang said that President Hu will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Annual Conference 2008, reviewing the achievements and experiences gained from the reform and opening up in the past 3 decades, expounding China's reform, opening up and peaceful development policies and China's opening-up strategies featuring mutual benefits and win-win results, and making proposals on strengthening regional cooperation and promoting lasting peace and common prosperity of Asia.

Zhang said that the Annual Conference 2008 is the 7th annual conference since the establishment of the BFA in 2001. Since its creation, the BFA, in the principle of equality, mutual benefits, cooperation and win-win results, has conducted discussions on imminent and long-term topics concerning Asia's economic and social development. The BFA has become an important platform in Asia for the interactions between representatives of governments, business leaders and academic scholars, and played an active role in promoting regional cooperation and enhancing understanding and friendship among Asian countries.

As economic globalization continues to evolve and issues of global nature such as energy, environment and climate change climb up the agenda, the increasing concerns of Asian countries are how to increase the vitality of Asia, how to share development opportunities, how to tackle challenges of mounting global economic and financial risks and how to address cross-border issues such as energy and environment. The theme of the Annual Conference 2008 is fixed as "Green Asia: Moving Towards Win-Win Through Changes" to suit the needs of Asia's development, according to Zhang.

Zhang introduced in detail the state affair activities to be held by President Hu in Hainan. He said that President Hu will hold welcome ceremonies and official talks with the heads of state of Tonga, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Chile, who are invited to pay state visits to China. President Hu will have in-depth exchanges of views with them on bilateral ties and regional and international issues of mutual interest, and making recommendations on the further deepening of comprehensive bilateral ties. China will also sign documents concerning economic and technical cooperation with related countries.

President Hu will also meet with presidents of Mongolia and Sri Lanka who are invited to attend the Annual Conference 2008. China would review new progress made with bilateral ties and exchange views on advancing mutually beneficial cooperation in all fronts with Mongolia and Sri Lanka so as to boost the comprehensive development of China-Mongolia and China-Sri Lanka relations.

Zhang said that the heads of government of Qatar, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Sweden are invited by Premier Wen, who will hold official bilateral talks with them in Beijing. President Hu will also meet with them in Hainan, sharing views on bilateral ties and major regional and international issues of mutual interest. We expect that these talks and meetings will further propel the healthy and steady growth of mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation between China and these countries in such areas as economy, trade, science, technology, environmental protection, culture and education.

Zhang stressed that 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up and the starting year for the implementation of policies set by the 17th CPC National Congress. President Hu will attend the BFA Annual Conference 2008 and meet with the leaders of related countries, which will surely enhance mutual understanding and mutual political trust between China and neighboring countries and between China and other regions and countries in the world and further advance regional and international cooperation.