Shen Xiaoming, secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, met in Changsha with Türk, honorary chairman of the Global Economic Development and Security Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA-GEDS) and former president of Slovenia, and other guests on the morning of October 29, 2023. They came to attend the 2nd BFA-GEDS.

Photo/Tang Jun.

The guests included Li Baodong, secretary general of the BFA; Arroyo, former president of the Philippines; Shipley, former prime minister of New Zealand; Abbasi, former prime minister of Pakistan; Zeng Weixiong, chairman of BFA-GEDS and deputy director of the National Narcotics Control Committee; Wong Kan Seng, former prime minister of Singapore; Don, former deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; Bater, representative of the BFA host, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, and executive vice governor of Hainan Province; and, Weerasekera, chairman of the Sectorial Oversight Committee on National Security of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Provincial leaders Li Dianxun, Wu Guiying, Xie Weijiang, and Zhang Yingchun attended.

Secretary Shen, on behalf of the provincial Party committee and the provincial government, welcomed the guests and thanked BFA for its long-standing support to Hunan. He believed that BFA is an international exchange platform with both Asian characteristics and global influence. Since its establishment in 2001, the forum has played a unique role in forging consensus among all parties, deepening regional cooperation, and promoting common development.

He noted that Hunan is a populous and economic powerhouse with developed science and education, rich culture, openness and inclusiveness. The province has been focusing on the beautiful blueprint of "Three Hubs and Four New Missions" Strategy depicted by President Xi Jinping and pushing forward all the tasks to reach the goal. We expected all the guests to give more valuable advice and suggestions on developing Hunan into a hub of reform and opening up in inland regions, and play a positive role in advancing Hunan's economic and social development and foreign exchanges and communications, he added.

Mr. Türk congratulated Hunan on its achievements in economic and social development and security. He was deeply impressed by Hunan's advancement in agriculture, construction machinery, automobile manufacturing and computing industry during his first visit to the province.

At the just-concluded Third Belt and Road Summit Forum for International Cooperation, President Xi Jinping announced to the world that China will persist in promoting high-level opening up to the outside world, providing more opportunities for countries to open up and cooperate. BFA-GEDS pays particular attention to the coordinated development of security, peace and economy, without which there will be no peace nor economic development, he said, adding that he is willing to take this forum as an opportunity to further strengthen communication and collaboration with Hunan, jointly address the risks and challenges of economic development, and join hands to promote the sustainable development of the world economy.