Qionghai (population 440,000) lies in the eastern part of the island and lower reaches of Wanquan River. Industries in the city include machinery, mining, sugar refinery, building materials and food processing. Bo'ao Forum ·is famous not only in China but also the world over.

Bo'ao (Newly-Built Tourist Attraction) -the Permanent Venue of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia

The Eden-Like Jade Belt Beach is in the town of Bo'ao in Qionghai City of Hainan Province, an hour's drive from Haikou, capital of Hainan Province. This obscure seaside town with a population of about 1,000 became a tourist attraction overnight on November 18, 2000, when it was appointed the permanent venue of the Bo'ao Forum For Asia, bringing development opportunities for Hainan Province and the town itself. It will be turned into a top-grade convention centre and tourism resort. That month, politicians, government officials, scientists and experts from 25 countries gathered there to discuss various issues affecting Asia. On December 7, 2000 Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, visited the Bo'ao Aquapolis.

The Bo' ao Aquapolis, encompassing 41. 8 square kilometres (25.95 square miles) in area, of which, water area occupying 8.5 square kilometres, provides investors with plenty of land and space for creation. Its distinctive topography, natural environment and unparalleled hot springs will especially attract domestic and overseas tourists. Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization said that if Bo'ao wants to become a tourist destination with an international reputation, it should fit itself into the international market and create its own distinctive features. Sunshine, sea and sand are far from enough for international tourists, especially for Europeans. He pointed out that architecture, food, clothes, singing, dancipg, handicrafts, and lifestyle with a rich ethnic flavour and traditional Chinese culture are the most intriguing and charming things for tourists from other countries.

The Jade Belt Beach, a natural beach embraced by the South China Sea and the Wanquan River, is not far away. It is listed by the Guinness W orId Records as the narrowest natural sand peninsula separating a sea and a river.

Bo'ao Aquapolis boasts proximity to rivers, lakes, and mountains, the ocean and islands, while its grounds are decorated with coconut trees, sand beaches, rare rocks, springs, fields and gardens.

Construction of the 41. 8-square- kilometre Bo' ao Development Area, designed by Australia Designs, started by January 1996 and was named one of the priority development programmes in China by the National Tourism Administration. A comprehensive international resort has been built for the forum, serving the environment, entertainment, tourism and exhibition . Construction of the Eo'ao Aquapolis has been divided into three stages, and the whole project is to be finished in 10 years. The first stage focused on the Eo'ao Forum For Asia and was completed on October 31, 2000. The stage involved around buildings the 33-square-kilometre-Sun City and a golf course on Shapo Island. With the completion of the first stage, the Eo'ao Aquapolis has become a resort providing accommodation, conference services, and golf, hot springs and aquatic tourism all with convenient transportation.

The Eo'ao Forum for Asia will bear a series of important responsibilities: (1) Realizing mutual benefit, reciprocity and win-win co-operation among Asian countries and regions through high-profile communications and mutual influences

(2) Creating a harmonious climate favourable for the all-inclusive and sustained economic development and co-prosperity

(3) Making better use of the trade and investment opportunities for a faster economic integration progress in Asian region

(4) J oindy protecting the interests of the Asian region and sharpening the competitive edge of Asia as a whole

(5) Offering intelligence support for the development of varied local resources, including human resources

(6) Improving multi-cultural understanding and communications in Asia

The Eo'ao Asia Forum is an open, non-governmental platform for highprofile dialogue among government officials, and non-government people, including business leaders and scholars who have an interest in Asia. The gathering of these notables to address economic, social and environmental issues that affect Asian societies is a much-needed platform for concerns not only within the region, but also outside the continent. The Eo'ao Asia Forum is a wise choice for Asian countries and regions in dealing with the increasingly fierce international competition in the global context. It is a fine tool to increase co-operation and dialogue, avoid brinkmanship and reach common prosperity in the region and the world at large. The forum will open to companies across the world. Unlike other regional governmental organization in Asia, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cocoperation (APEC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Europe Meeting, the forum will .. cater to the needs of business community. "

The Eo'ao Forum for Asia was officially established on February 27, 2001.

Leaders and former leaders from 25 Asian nations and Australia brought both keen enthusiasm to the opening of the Eo'ao Forum for Asia but also great interest in the beauty of China's southernmost province. More than 500 officials, scholars and celebrities participated in the forum ceremony. They came from Australia, China and other 24 Asian countries including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. At the invitation of the Chinese Government, King Birendra of Nepal and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad participated as special guests. It has become a new forum for regional dialogue and co-operation that will contribute to the prosperity and development of Asia.

The proposal to set up such a forum was advanced by former top officials from the Philippines, Australia (former Australian Prime Minister Robert Hawke) and Japan in September 1998, and the Chinese Government has made great effort and offered great support to the establishment of the forum.

The town has a rich mythical past as well. Ao is the name of a huge turtle from ancient legend, considered by the local elderly to be the ninth son of the dragon. People here are born and grow up on the back of the dragon and, for this reason, consider themselves blessed by it. Despite its colourful past and quirky heritage, Bo'ao slowly sank into obscurity. As fisherman began to use bigger boats, Bo'ao, no longer an important harbour. The hustle and bustle in the town returned in 2000, however, when Bo' ao was chosen as the dialogue venue for Asian and Pacific states leaders. The selection came at a time when a wave of economic integration was sweeping across the globe and a number of regional organizations were anxious to accelerate their own integration process. The streets of Bo'ao have stretched longer and grown broader now, and the streetlights are brighter. A five-star hotel and a fourstar hotel have been erected. Today, Bo'ao has been turned into a tourist attraction, where tourists can get on board ships to smaller islands off the coast, trek in the woods and visit small island residents.

The Bo'ao Forum has turned the city into a tourist resort. The forum provides a platform for high-level dialogue among Asian nations and regions to review economic and social issues and promote economic integration of the regIon.