Boao Forum's Secretary General, Long Yongtu, announced on Wednesday that the eighth annual session of Boao Forum for Asia will be held in Boao from April 17th to 19th. At a press conference, Long announced the theme of this year's event will be Asia: Managing Beyond Crisis.

Participants are expected to discuss the impact of the crisis on Asia and how the region can cope with these challenges as effectively as possible. Topics for discussion also include the increasing role that emerging economies play in the global financial arena.

The Boao Forum was officially established in February 2001. It has become a vital mechanism aiming to promote economic cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region as well as Asian nations with other parts of the world.

Long said that due to the global economic turmoil, this year's event will not feature firework displays and cultural performances as in previous years.

(CCTV January 8, 2009)