On March 24, 2017, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli met in Boao, Hainan respectively with President Hery Rajaonarimampianina of Madagascar, President Peter Christian of the Federated States of Micronesia, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal of Nepal, Chairman of Mesherano Jirga Fazel Hadi Muslimyar of the National Assembly of Afghanistan and Vice President Myint Swe of Myanmar.

Zhang Gaoli welcomed leaders of all countries to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2017 in China and expected all parties, centering on the theme of "Globalization and Free Trade: The Asian Perspectives" to enhance policy exchanges and promote practical cooperation.

During his meeting with Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Zhang Gaoli said that President Xi Jinping put forward the "Ten Major Cooperation Plans" at the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2015, opening up a new era for China-Africa win-win cooperation and common development. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Madagascar, China is willing to work with Madagascar to seize two major opportunities of implementing the outcomes of the Summit and promoting the "Belt and Road" construction and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as agriculture, fishery, processing and manufacturing, in order to strive for more early harvests and benefit the two peoples.

Hery Rajaonarimampianina said that with time-honored friendship between Madagascar and China, strengthening bilateral cooperation conforms to the interest of both countries and conduces to improving the well-being of the two peoples. As China acts as an engine of the development of world economy, China's support will effectively promote the development of African countries including Madagascar. Promoting economic globalization and free trade will bring more development opportunities to all countries.

During his meeting with Peter Christian, Zhang Gaoli said that President Xi Jinping and leaders of your country reached important consensus in 2014 on establishing a strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development, which indicated the direction for the development of China-Micronesia relations. China is willing to work together with Micronesia to strengthen exchanges, improve mutual trust and expand cooperation in agriculture, fishery, tourism, maritime development, environmental protection and other fields to push the bilateral relations for continuous development. China welcomes Micronesia to participate in the "Belt and Road" construction and facilitate connectivity.

Peter Christian stated that Micronesia and China have enjoyed a long-term friendship, and Micronesia thanks China for offering support and assistance to Micronesia in its economic and social development and looks forward to enhancing practical cooperation with China in all fields. As China serves as a "beacon of hope" for small island nations, Micronesia is willing to actively participate in the "Belt and Road" construction and strengthen cooperation with China in the South Pacific region through innovative ways.

During his meeting with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Zhang Gaoli said that President Xi Jinping held meetings with His Excellency Prime Minister last year, reaching important consensus on the development of China-Nepal relations. The two sides should continue to consolidate political mutual trust, maintain high-level exchanges, jointly promote the "Belt and Road" construction, strengthen connectivity, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, energy, production capacity and investment, and expand exchanges in people-to-people and cultural engagement as well as local levels, so as to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields to continuously achieve new progress.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that, as sincere and close friends, Nepal and China have always respected and supported each other. Nepal highly appreciates the "Belt and Road" initiative and is willing to strengthen connectivity and practical cooperation in various fields with China. The theme of this year's annual conference conduces to international cooperation and Asian development. He wished the annual conference a complete success.

During his meeting with Fazel Hadi Muslimyar, Zhang Gaoli said that China-Afghanistan strategic cooperative partnership has maintained a sound development momentum in recent years. Last year, President Xi Jinping and President Ashraf Ghani had in-depth exchanges of views and reached broad consensus on promoting the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to join hands with Afghanistan to continuously well implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, maintain high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and jointly promote the "Belt and Road" construction, so as to elevate bilateral relations into new highs.

Fazel Hadi Muslimyar said that as a friendly neighboring country of China, Afghanistan is willing to strengthen exchanges with China at high and other levels, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, deepen practical cooperation in all fields, and enhance collaboration on regional issues, so as to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

During his meeting with Myint Swe, Zhang Gaoli said that China attaches high importance to developing its relations with Myanmar, and is willing to make joint efforts with Myanmar, in the light of the guidelines for the development of bilateral relations established by President Xi Jinping and leaders of your country to maintain close high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen the docking of development strategies, jointly promote the construction of the "Belt and Road" and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, actively promote cooperation in large-scale projects, strengthen the strength of cooperation in the field of people's livelihood, and consolidate and develop the "Paukphaw" friendship between the two peoples, so as to push forward the constant development of China-Myanmar relations.

Myint Swe said that Myanmar and China have enjoyed a profound "Paukphaw" friendship, close high-level exchanges and significant progress in mutually beneficial cooperation. Myanmar stays committed to developing comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China and is willing to deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields, so as to jointly contribute to regional stability and development.

On the same day, Zhang Gaoli also met with Chairman Yasuo Fukuda of the BFA, Vice Chairman Zeng Peiyan and some board members. Zhang Gaoli said that the BFA has become a comprehensive forum with both Asian characteristics and global influence, and has played a unique and important role in building Asian consensus, promoting Asian cooperation, boosting confidence in Asian integration and constructing an Asian community of common destiny. It is hoped that the Forum will adhere to its basis orientation featuring Asia-based and world-oriented, send Asian voice on major regional and international issues, continue to push forward the establishment of practical cooperation platforms, gradually expand the scope of topics, constantly create new highlights of communication and cooperation in various fields, and strengthen cooperation with other international organizations and institutions, and actively build a broader partnership to further uplift its international and regional influence.

Fukuda Yasuo and other people said that they thanked the Chinese government for its long-term support to the BFA development. The Forum has grown into an open forum to the international community pooling elites from all walks of life. It is also an important window for China to play an active role in the international arena. In the face of the current international situation, it's crucial for Asian economies to be committed to economic globalization and free trade. The "Belt and Road" initiative is very visionary and will be widely supported by countries around the world.

Zhang Gaoli also had discussions with more than 50 representatives of Chinese and foreign entrepreneurs present at the Forum, answered questions on topics such as China's economic situation, supply-side structural reform, foreign enterprises' investment in China, economic globalization, the "Belt and Road" construction and Asian regional cooperation, and expounded in details on relevant policies and measures adopted by the Chinese government.