
From July 17 to 19, 2004, the Boao Energy Forum for Asia Energy Cooperation and Development jointly sponsored by the Boao Forum for Asia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran was held in Tehran, capital of Iran. More than 320 people from fifteen countries and regions including China, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Japan, Hong Kong of China, Turkey, the U.K, Germany, France and Australia participated in the Forum.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Dr. Mohammed Hossein Adeli, Iranian deputy foreign minister. Long Yongtu, secretary general of the Boao Forum for Asia, and Mr. Bijan N. Zangeneh, Iranian minister of petroleum, spoke on the occasion. Mr. Robert Hawke, former Australian prime minister, Fu Chengyu, head of the Chinese delegation and president of the China National Offshore Oil Corp., and Yang Qinglong, general manager of the Zhuhai Zhenrong Co., gave key-note speeches on the Asian and international cooperation in energy at the opening session.
The theme of this forum was “Asian Energy Development and Cooperation”. In the 3-day forum, participants from the governments, the petroleum circles and the academic world of various countries had in-depth discussions and analyses on four topics: the security of energy supply and consumer and producer cooperation in Asia, investment in energy, energy and sustainable development and regional cooperation in energy and environment. The participants of various countries showed frank and sincere aspiration for cooperation in energy. To promote a long-term development and prosperity of oil-producing countries, and to ensure the security of the oil and gas pipelines and the prices of oil and gas are the common goals of the oil producing and consuming countries and also the basis of their common interests. For this reason, all the participants held that Asian countries should carry out extensive cooperation in energy investment, energy technology and management, energy trade and exploitation of oil and gas resources so as to facilitate a healthy development of energy economy in the region.
The Boao Forum for Asia founded in 2001 is an unofficial and non-profitable international organization initiated by 25 Asian countries and Australia, and the first important regional international organization set up in China. The Forum aims at providing a high-level platform for dialogues and exchanges between Asian countries and regions and pushing forward the process of development of Asian countries through strengthening regional economic adjustment and cooperation.
The Boao Energy Forum for Asia Energy Cooperation and Development, the first forum held by the Boao Forum for Asia outside China, attracted close attention of various sides. In his speech, former Australian Prime Minister Robert Hawke said, we are now at a unique historical period. Along with the economic development, the focus of world energy will shift from Europe to Asia. Therefore, this Forum is timely and essential. Iranian Minister of Petroleum Mr. Zangeneh pointed out, energy is a global issue. Without global cooperation, energy problem cannot be solved. In the coming few years the economic growth of the developing countries will surpass that of the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). China has made an eye-catching economic development. All this will definitely change the world economic pattern. It is absolutely necessary for Asian oil producers and consumers to discuss together the problems both are facing. This time, China sent a 90-member delegation there with Chen Jinhua, former vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and chief representative to the Boao Forum for Asia as honorary head of the delegation, Fu Chengyu, president of the China National Offshore Oil Corp, as its head, and Wang Yunze, CPAFFC vice president, Xu Dingming, director of the Energy Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, Yan Jiaming, vice president of the CPCIA, as well as three deputy general managers of the CNPC, the SINOPEC and the SINOCHEM, as its deputy heads.
Entrusted by the Boao Forum for Asia, the CPAFFC, as a co-organizer, was in charge of organizing the Chinese (mainland) delegation and keeping in contacts with the Iran-China Friendship Society. The efficient work done by the CPAFFC in organizing the delegation, coordinating the relations among organizations both at home and abroad and making pre-forum preparations as well as its assistance and support to the Secretariat of the Boao Forum for Asia has ensured the successful convening of the forum and won high appraisal from various sides. Chen Jinhua, chief representative to the Boao Forum for Asia, Long Yongtu, secretary general of the Boao Forum for Asia, and Yao Wang, chief supervisor, via CPAFFC Vice President Wang Yunze, extended their appreciation to CPAFFC President Chen Haosu and the CPAFFC, and hoped that the Boao Forum for Asia would keep cooperating with the CPAFFC in the future.