On March 29, 2015, President Xi Jinping met with members of the fourth Board of Directors of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) at Boao State Guesthouse in Hainan Province.

Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past decade or more, the BFA has developed with a steady pace, with its influence continuously increasing, played a unique role in pooling consensus in Asia, boosting Asia’s development and enhancing Asia’s influence, and greatly strengthened China’s friendly exchanges and cooperation with the world. With the theme of “Asia’s New Future: Towards a Community of Common Destiny”, this annual conference discussed the establishment of a community of common destiny in Asia, which grasped the pulse of Asia’s development and will show profound significance of enlightenment to world peace and development.

Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past two years or more, we have based ourselves on China’s actual development, adhered to problem-orientation, and gradually formed and actively advanced the strategic layout of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepening reforms, comprehensively implementing national governance under the rule of law and comprehensively strengthening Party disciplines. This is the strategy of national governance and administration of state affairs in the new historical conditions as well as important guarantee to realize the Chinese Dream of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi Jinping stressed that China’s relations with Asia and the world at large are also experiencing profound changes, and the future and destiny of China is more closely linked with those of Asia and the world at large. China adheres to the path of peaceful development, is committed to promoting the construction of a new type of international relations centering on win-win cooperation, and advocates the principle of coordinating with each other without alignment so as to promote the forming of a partnership network all over the world. China will keep pursuing a good-neighborly and friendly policy as well as a strategy of opening-up featuring mutual benefit and win-win outcome. China hopes to obtain greater support for development through strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the world.

Xi Jinping stressed that the “Belt and Road” initiative is an important measure of China to expand its all-round opening-up under the new circumstances as well as a program of China to deepen regional economic cooperation, aiming to promote common development of the countries along the route. The “Belt and Road” construction has entered a phase of practical cooperation under the joint efforts of all parties; some of the early harvest programs have taken shape; and the “Belt and Road” construction vision and action documents have been stipulated. China advocates the building of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and has made substantial strides. China has also announced an investment of 40 billion USD to establish the Silk Road Fund. These initiatives, which are highly inclusive and open, follow the prevailing international rules, operate in accordance with modern management modes, and form mutual promotion with the established mechanisms. I hope that the BFA can bring its own advantages into play and make greater contributions to the prosperity and development of Asia.

Director-general of the BFA Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of Pakistan, former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin of France, former Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia, former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley of New Zealand, Chairman of the Board of Directors Leif Johansson of Ericsson, and former Deputy Prime Minister Surakiat Sathirathai of Thailand delivered speeches successively.

Yasuo Fukuda said that President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum, starting from a historical perspective, talked about the general trends of today’s Asia and the world at large, presented the blueprint of Asia’s unity, peace and development, and charted the course for Asia’s cooperation in the future. They appreciate the Chinese government for its long-term and strong support to the Forum. The Forum has become a platform for heads of state as well as heads of industrial and commercial circles of all countries to explore in depth the resolutions to the most pressing issues faced in economic and social development, which is helpful in nurturing trust between governments and enterprises as well as civil societies. They hoped that all parties can join hands to unswervingly push forward the construction of the Asian community of common destiny.

Shaukat Aziz said that the “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is encouraging. It is an important channel for realization of peace and prosperity, and is conducive to strengthening political, economic, and security cooperation in the region. The AIIB will exert important and far-reaching influence in multiple aspects to the world, and they shall vigorously promote the implementation of this significant agenda.

Jean-Pierre Raffarin said that President Xi Jinping’s proposal to highlight innovation is of paramount importance to the promotion of economic development. The world is experiencing rapid changes, both developed countries and emerging economies need innovative growth. Strengthening cooperation in the field of innovation could become a key factor in building the community of common destiny. All parties should strengthen cooperation and innovate collectively.

Ahmad Badawi said that the world is undergoing profound changes, and all parties should seize various opportunities and find all kinds of ways to realize development.

Jenny Shipley said that it is of great importance for the BFA to gather elites from governments, industry, academia as well as scientific research institutions and jointly find ways to achieve progress and solve problems. All parties should strengthen cooperation and face challenges together.

Leif Johansson said that innovation, science and technology can enhance the capability of infrastructure construction, and all parties should make efforts to enhance cyber and digital capability so as to realize better connectivity and more efficient cooperation among enterprises of all countries.

Surakiat Sathirathai said that President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony was full of wisdom and integrated many important thoughts, and is bound to promote regional cooperation and development. The “Belt and Road” initiative will boost the connectivity between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and will become an important model. The initiative itself also speaks for China’s resolution to stick to the path of peaceful development.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the meeting.