The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) said yesterday it will hold its first international conference on the culture industry in Zhongshan City in south China's Guangdong Province from November 18 to 19.

BFA Secretary-General Long Yongtu told a press conference in Beijing that an opening ceremony will be held in the capital on November 14, with former US President George Bush attending and giving a speech.

The theme of the conference will be "Value, Development and Innovation" and the main topics to be covered will be the influence of technology on traditional culture, how China will face the international market after opening its markets and relations between the culture industry and other industries. 

Long said the BFA has engaged in promoting the integrity of Asia's economy and regards cultural exchange as the basis of building an "Asia consciousness." 

The development of the culture industry in this region will help promote economic development, Long said, adding that he hoped this conference would play a role in promoting regional development. 

As an open regional forum, the BFA was established four years ago and has since attracted Asian officials, business people and academics, as well as from other parts of the world, to come to China every year to discuss regional and global economics and politics.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2005)