BOAO, Hainan, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference 2006 concluded Sunday afternoon in Boao, the coastal town in southmost China's Hainan Province.

    Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong attended the opening ceremony of the conference on Saturday and delivered a keynote speech, vowing that China will work along with other Asian countries to realize prosperity and harmony.

    BFA Secretary-General Long Yongtu, told a press conference just after the conclusion of the conference that the annual confernce successfully promoted its core idea of peaceful development, harmonious co-existence and win-win cooperation, perticularly among the Asian countries.

    Some 850 delegates from 39 countries or regions exchanged views on major international topics such as energy and the World Trade Organization Doha round talks, Long said.

    Meanwhile, the non-governmental forum attracted more business people from both home and abroad than in previous years. Three quarters of the delegates are from business circles and the number of overseas delegates exceeded that of domestic participants.

    The forum also promoted contact and exchange between related governments and companies.

    The BFA arranged more than 100 meetings or round-table discussions between government officials or business people in the last three days, said Long, adding that the forum also arranged discussions on such issues as education, culture, health-care and environmental protection.

    The forum also organized for the first time a round-table meeting for the business people from both sides of the Taiwan Straites, besides said Long.

    Through the conference, the BFA also enhanced cooperation with other international organizations such as the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank, Long said.

    The forum was initiated by former President of the Philippines Fidel Ramos, former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke and former Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa in 1998.

    Ramos and Hawke spoke highly of the annual conference 2006 at the press conference, saying it helped to promote regional cooperation and will exert long-term impact for Asia's development. Enditem