The Annual Conference 2007 of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) opened Saturday in Boao of southern China's Hainan Province, focusing on the integration of the whole Asia.

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo attended the opening ceremony and will deliver a keynote speech.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz are also present at the conference.

During the two-day conference, more than 1,400 people from political, business and academic circles will discuss topics concerning the Asian economic community, Asian values, corporate social responsibility and innovation in the banking and telecommunications sectors.

Long Yongtu, secretary-general of the forum, said that East Asia is currently the most active subregion in regional economic cooperation, but South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia have been forgotten in the entire Asian regional cooperation process.

Observers said Asian economies outside East Asia are hoping to see an arrangement connecting the whole of Asia, while Australia and New Zealand are making efforts to "join" Asia and take a positive approach to the Asian economic integration.

Against the backdrop, according to Long, the Boao Forum for Asia, which is a dialogue channel for the whole Asia, wishes toplay its unique role to fill in the vacuum.

The BFA, established in 2001, is a non-governmental organization serving as a platform voicing for Asia's future.

The 2007 conference on the theme "Asia Winning in Today's Global Economy -- Innovation and Sustainable Development" will run from Saturday to Sunday in Boao.

Microsoft Corporation Chairman Bill Gates and Nobel Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus also attended the meeting.