The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) held a press conference for its 1st Global Economic Development and Security Forum (GEDS) at the BFA International Conference Center at Boao, Hainan, on April 18, 2021. Li Baodong, secretary general of BFA, and Wu Lan, deputy secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, attended and addressed the conference.
 
Secretary General Li Baodong noted that, GEDS aims to establish an international forum and platform for global political, business and academic personages to discuss coordination and balance between economic development and security issues. It will organize in-depth analysis on risks, weakness, instabilities, and uncertainties during the progress of globalization and economic development. It will also probe into economic and non-traditional security issues, and accordingly put forward prospective thoughts and solutions to guarantee the sustainable development of Asia, the world, and human being.

The first GEDS will be held in Changsha, Hunan Province between October 18 and 20 this year. It will be hosted by BFA and the Hunan Provincial People’s Government, and undertaken by the Changsha Municipal People’s Government. The theme is “Economic Security and Sustainable Development in a Changing World”. More than 20 sub-forums will be held.

Deputy Secretary Wu Lan said that, over the past two decades, BFA has become an important platform for promoting win-win cooperation between Asia and the world. Hunan has superior geographical location and thriving industry. It is a key cradle of Chinese culture, an important tourism destination, a best choice for investment and business start-up, and a place of origin for innovation and opening-up. As one of China’s happiest and safest provinces, Hunan has made all-out efforts in the three critical battles against major risks, poverty, and pollution. It was the first domestic province that had all of the more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients discharged, and has maintained no new local confirmed cases for 13 consecutive months. In 2020, Hunan’s economic aggregate hit 4 trillion CNY, registering the fastest growth among the top 10 Chinese provinces and regions in economic aggregate. At present, Hunan is, in the light of President Xi Jinping’s instructions on development, carrying out the Three Highlands and Four New Missions strategy, to strive to build a modernized and new Hunan. She was convinced that BFA would bring new opportunities for Hunan to broaden exchange and cooperation with other countries.

Wu Lan met with Li Baodong after the press conference. She promised to make good preparations and coordination, to ensure a full success of the conference with distinctive highlights and features.
 
This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn