BEIJING, April 4: China has invited Pakistan to attend Asia Economic Forum, which meets on April 12 to evolve a new economic agenda and future economic strategy for ensuring rapid economic growth in Asia.

Over 1,400 prominent world leaders including Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, Japanese Prime Minister Junichino Koizumi, Prime Minister Thanksin Shinawatra of Thailand, Prime Minister Lee Han-do Republic of Korea will be attending the meeting.

China attaches high significance to the meeting for socio-economic progress in Asia and to achieve common economic goals, said a senior official of the Forum. He told APP that they have invited Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Petroleum Minister Usman Aminuddin to represent Pakistan at the official level. But, he added they have yet not received confirmation of their participation.

However, he hoped that at least Pakistan Ambassador in Beijing will attend the conference to project his country’s future priorities in the economic sector.

At non-official level, former President Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari is also expected to attend the conference.

BOAO meeting to be held in China’s Hainan Province will be grand gathering of a thousand people, government bodies, and academic and business circles, said Zhang Ziang, acting secretary general of the BOAO Forum for Asia (BFA).—APP