Chief Executive Edmund Ho will attend the first annual Boao Forum for Asia conference in South China's Hainan Province tomorrow (11 April).

The BFA conference will be held on 12-13 April. The theme of the conference is "A New Century, a New Challenge and a New Asia: Asian Economic Cooperation and Development". Government leaders from Asian countries, leading figures from the business community, academics, as well as special guests from all over the world, will attend the conference. Participants will discuss topics including the Impact of the World Economic Situation on Asia/; the Positive Impact of China's WTO Accession and the Development of the Asian Economy.

The BFA, established in February 2001, is a non-governmental, non-profit, international organization. The objectives of the BFA are to encourage economic exchanges and cooperation within the region, and to promote communication between Asian countries and other parts of the world. The Forum will provide government officials, business leaders and academics with a venue to discuss issues such as the economy, social development, population and the environment.

The Macao Foundation, one of the members of the BFA, will send three representatives to the conference. The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute organized a team from the business sector to visit Boao.

The Secretary for Public Administration and Justice, Florinda Chan, will be the acting Chief Executive from 11-13 April.