BOAO, Hainan, April 22 (Xinhua)-Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong said here Saturday that China will work for mutual benefit and common development in Asia and the rest of the world as it builds a harmonious society domestically.

    During the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2006, Zeng recalled the development of China in the past five years as it is also the fifth anniversary for the BFA, a non-governmental regional organization.
According to Zeng, over the past five years, China has steadily advanced its reform and opening-up program. It overcame the difficulties caused by the Asian financial crisis and prevailed over SARS and other natural disasters. It has overcome some destabilizing factors and risks in the economy and maintained fast yet steady economic growth.

    In 2005, China's GDP grew by 9.5 percent, topping 2.2 trillion U.S. dollars and averaging 1,700 U.S. dollars per person. "This has paved the way for ensuring China's economic development in the coming five years," he said.

    The outlines of the national economic and social development plan for 2006-2010 were approved by the 10th National People's Congress at its recently-convened fourth session.

    According to the plan, China will pursue a scientific outlook on development and build a harmonious society that will advance the interests of all social groups in a balanced way.

    Zeng briefed the conference on China's scientific development: It aims to promote all-round and integrated process in economic, political, cultural and social fields. In pursuing development, China strives to achieve balanced growth in urban and rural areas, coastal and inland areas and economic and social fields. Following the basic state policies of resources conservation and environmental protection, China pursues the goal of sustainable development and of building a resource-conserving and environmental-friendly society. At the same time, we make sure that China's development is backed and driven by reform and opening-up and by innovation.

    Zeng said the above concepts, approaches and measures, which have developed in the countries reform, opening-up and modernization process over the past 20 years and more, will guide the country both at present and in the future.

    About 850 Chinese and overseas officials, business people and scholars will be present at the annual meetings in the coastal scenic town in south China's island province of Hainan. Enditem