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As the first China-based international conference organization, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) will be put in the world spotlight for the 17th time in Hainan province from April 8 to11, which will show China’s contribution to regional cooperation as well as its resolution in opening up, experts said.

“Boao is the first home-based multilateral diplomacy in 2018, and President Xi Jinping’s attendance shows that China has attached great importance to this forum,” Xiong Lili, director of Department of International Politics at the University of International Business and Economics, told People’s Daily Online.

Against the background of the anti-globalization trend in the world, China’s continuous efforts at the forum is more important and necessary, Xiong stressed.

One of the prominent features of the forum is multilevel and network-like cooperation, based on which, the forum is expected to further promote economic cooperation in the region and the world, he explained.

“Boao represents the direction of China’s multilateral diplomacy in 2018, which indicates that China will still unswervingly promote regional integration as well as economic globalization. China also expects to achieve mutual development in China and other countries through mutually-beneficial cooperation, such as the Belt and Road Initiative,” Xiong said.

The expert also mentioned that following the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, the Boao Forum for Asia is expected to further promote China’s model of cooperation and the determination of building a community of shared future.

In addition, China’s domestic reform measures may also be the key deliberations of this year’s forum, as 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up.

“The forum will show how China is determined on further opening up from the regional level all the way up to the global level, including economic cooperation in Asia and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as constructing a community of shared future,” said Xiong.