CRI听力：2007 Euro-Asia Economic Forum Opens

The 2007 Euro-Asia Economic Forum has opened in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The forum, aimed at injecting continuous vitality into regional development, has drawn together some 1,400 delegates around the world. Our reporter Lin Lin has more.

Reporter:

The two-day forum is sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, the SCO Business Council and the UN Development Program.

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin proposed at the opening ceremony that efforts be made to forge a Euro-Asia partnership featuring peace and harmony.

"The theme of this forum is 'Enhancing Pragmatic Cooperation for Common Development'. The central task of future Euro-Asia regional cooperation is to implement consensuses reached by all sides, thus turning potential cooperation into real achievements as soon as possible."

Participants will discuss cooperation and development in the fields of energy, tourism, education and finance. A roundtable meeting of governors and mayors will also be held.

UN's Resident Coordinator in China, Khalid Malik, has also addressed the opening ceremony.

"We have to fundamentally work and connect people, connect them through reducing barriers for trade and tourism, so that we can see each other and trade with each other. And to that process bring new prosperity along this route."

He adds that all countries should focus on the sustainable development of human beings, putting people first and protecting the environment.

The forum was set up in 2005. It aims to boost closer economic relationships among SCO members and observer states as well as other countries.

The city of Xi'an has been named the permanent venue of the forum.

Lin Lin, CRI news