Boao Forum chairman stresses connectivity, cooperation in Asia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia received a positive response. CGTN's Tian Wei talked to chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia Ban Ki-moon who shared his opinion of Boao and Xi Jinping's speech.

“I am honored to be elected as chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia,” said Ban at the beginning of the interview. "There are many regional conflict issues, there are still poverty issues, and economic prosperity, economic benefits are not evenly, fairly distributed,” he said, expressing his well wishes to Asia as well as his worries.

“I feel a sense of heavy responsibility because Asia has been taking a greater leadership, particularly with the Chinese economic growth," Ban said, commenting on the implications of becoming chairman at such a critical time. "China is taking a greater leadership role in the world, with the 40 years of reform and opening-up of China, now I believe that China is also entering into a new era."

Connectivity, mutual cooperation and partnership are the most important things at this time, Ban said. The three goals are "much, much more important than domination by a certain country over another or some seeking some other way of undesirable partnership,” he added.

Ban said he was inspired by President Xi's statement on Tuesday, calling it a "visionary statement for broad partnerships," and demonstrating "self-confidence as well as a strong commitment to work together with the world at large."

World Insight with Tian Wei is a 45-minute global affairs and debate show on CGTN. It airs weekdays at 10:15 p.m. BJT (1415GMT), with rebroadcasts at 4:15 a.m. BJT (2015GMT).