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Print Edition> Business
UPDATED: April 22, 2011 NO. 17 APRIL 28, 2011
Adopting an Inclusive View
The Boao Forum for Asia pushes for inclusive development across the region
By YU YAN
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On March 5, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered the government work report during the Fourth Session of the 11th National People's Congress. Wen identified major tasks in 2011—promoting science, technology, education and human resources development, strengthening social development and improving the well-being of the people to name a few—that served as a perfect example of promoting inclusive development, Fukuda said.

In addition to inclusive development between different areas within a society, Fukuda also stressed inclusive development between individuals.

"It's crucial for us to determine our policy targets from both the national and individual perspectives," said Fukuda. "We should stress every person's quality and their feeling of happiness."

Inclusive development features equal opportunities for all people to share the development fruits, Zeng Peiyan, Vice Chairman of the BFA, said. "We should enable every member of society to enjoy public service equally," he said.

Resource inclusion

Striving to achieve inclusive development between economic development and energy and resource use was also a hot topic at the forum.

On a greater scale, limited resources—oil, coal, metals and food—present an even bigger challenge to the world economy at large. All countries should utilize these resources efficiently and develop alternative energy sources. This issue is particularly prominent in East Asia, which is currently undergoing rapid economic development accompanied with an equally rapid demand for resources.

"We really need to gather all our ideas and experts and cooperate on this matter. Japan is willing to share its advanced technologies with everyone," Fukuda said. He also said energy cooperation is one of the pillars of the mutually beneficial relationship between Japan and China.

Participants agreed that a balance should be reached between economic development and environmental protection while working toward sustained development. This not only tackles the green issue many countries have become involved with, but will also help reduce the overall dependence on fossil fuels.

Andrew Forrest, CEO of Australian iron ore mining company Fortescue Metals Group, said, concerning efforts toward inclusive development, the company would use part of the profits to reinvest in new mines and ports to reduce prices to a competitive level and thus reach a sustainable relation with the company's customers.

Volvo CEO Leif Johansson suggested recycling old cars. He also proposed reducing carbon dioxide emissions by enhancing energy efficiency and using alternative energy sources.

About half of all auto companies need to enhance the energy efficiency of their vehicles, Johansson said, also suggesting that more emphasis be placed on reducing fuel use and enhancing fuel efficiency.

"We hope to be able to find alternative energy sources," he said. "We hope to make better use of water and solar energy, and gradually phase out our dependence on fossil fuels."

Joint relief

In light of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, BFA participants agreed that Asian countries should establish a joint system to respond to disasters.

Fukuda expressed gratitude to China and other countries for their aid to Japan during the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the following tsunami that hit on northeast Japan.

Zeng Peiyan suggested Asian countries pool their resources to establish a geological and meteorological monitoring and research network. With this network, Asian countries could strengthen their early warning systems for natural disasters. What's more, they could share their disaster relief experiences and provide each other with technical assistance and equipment in preparation for future catastrophes.

"In this way, we could enhance the whole region's ability to handle various disasters and reduce personnel costs and property losses," Zeng said.

Boao Forum for Asia

The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2011 was held April 13-16 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.

More than 2,000 politicians, business leaders, experts, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations as well as journalists attended the conference.

The theme for the annual conference 2011 was Inclusive Development: Common Agenda and New Challenges. Seminars were held on topics including certainties and uncertainties of the global recovery, global shift of industries, hot money and bubbles, G20 at crossroads, the growth potential of Japan, as well as China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) and the 10th anniversary of China's entry to the WTO.

Boao

Boao, originally a small town in Qionghai, Hainan Province, is now the permanent site of the Boao Forum for Asia. It covers an area of 86 square km and has a population of about 27,000 people. Since 2002, the Boao Forum for Asia has held its annual conference in Boao every April.

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