Top-level Asian forum kicks off
博鳌亚洲论坛在云南开幕

The Boao Forum has been underway for two days now but it officially opens today. Politicians, businessmen and economists from around the world, including Nobel Prize winner Edmund Phelps and former Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo have gathered in Boao to discuss future cooperation in Asia.

The four-day meeting has been themed "Asia's New Future: Identifying New Growth Drivers". Participants are exploring news ways in which Asian economies can be reformed.

The discussions in the first two days were dominated by innovation and financial reform, as well as other issues like urbanization, property prices, energy and global finance. A variety of important dialogues are expected in the coming days, including the China-Russia Energy and Finance Dialogue, China-Australia business leaders' dialogue and the China-Japan CEO dialogue.

Organizers of the Forum say its mission is promoting common development in Asia through further integration of the regional economy.