BOAO, Hainan Province, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) closed Sunday in south China's Hainan Province, after two days of discussions on economic integration, sustainable development and other major issues facing Asia.

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech, in which he urged Asian nations to make efforts to expand regional integration, protect the environment, encourage technical innovation and build a harmonious continent.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also attended the conference.

Other prominent speakers included Microsoft Corporation chairman Bill Gates and Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.

More than 1,400 of the most influential politicians, business leaders and intellectuals from 36 countries and regions also participated.

Topics at the conference included Asian integration, energy cooperation, innovations in the banking and telecommunications sectors, corporate social responsibility and the media's role in building a harmonious Asia.

The BFA was established in 2001 as a platform for high-level interaction between leaders from Asia and around the world, with the aim of promoting the development goals of Asian countries through greater regional economic integration.

The theme for this year's conference was "Asia Winning in Today's Global Economy - Innovation and Sustainable Development". The conference opened in this island resort of Hainan last Friday.