The first international institute in China focusing on regional social Asian issues will be established later this month in South China's Hainan Province.
The first meeting of the Bo'ao Asian Forum is scheduled for February 26 and 27.
The organization, named after the newly formed Hainan Province county of Bo'ao that serves as its permanent home, will serve as a view exchange platform for Asian countries, a local official said yesterday.
"This is a historic event because the forum is the first international conference organization using China as its headquarters,"said Chen Chi, an official with the organization's preparatory committee.
Chen said world statesmen, celebrities and experts on international affairs from 26 countries, including India, Japan and Australia, will attend the debut meeting.
"The forum has invited representatives of all these Asian countries to sit together and discuss international affairs and social development questions, which is unprecedented," Chen said.
Bo'ao is about 80 km away from Haikou, the province's capital.
The State, Hainan and the county all are well-prepared for the coming conference, Chen said.
(China Daily 02/10/2001)
