BOAO, April 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference 2005 opened Saturday morning at the International Conference Center in Boao, a scenic town in China's southernmost island province of Hainan.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body, delivered a keynote speech after the opening ceremony, advocating to build a harmonious and prosperous Asia.

Fidel Ramos, chairman of the BFA Board of Directors and former Philippine president, made a welcome speech at the opening ceremony, which is presided over by BFA Secretary-General Long Yongtu.

More than 1,200 senior politicians, scholars and business people from about 40 countries and regions are here for the annual conference themed -- Asia searching for win-win: New Role of Asia.

The participants will discuss such major topics as Asia-Europe cooperation, world economic growth, the prospects of the new round of World Trade Organization talks, the monetary policy and economic growth, as well as China's real estate and automotive industries and overseas investment.

Since the open regional forum was established in 2001, the BFA has attracted a great number of Asian high-level officials, businessmen, scholars from across the world to discuss regional and global economic and political issue.

Some 380 journalists, including 150 from overseas news organizations, have arrived to cover this year's annual conference.