More than 600 journalists have registered to cover the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2009, which begins on Friday in Hainan Province.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will deliver a keynote speech at the forum, held in China's southernmost province.

Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2009, the eighth of its kind, will attract 2,700 participants, including 1,600 attendees, said Wang Sheng, deputy chief of Hainan Provincial Office of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs, on Wednesday.

Heads of state from 13 countries including Pakistan, Mongolia, Burma, Vietnam, Finland, Albania, New Zealand, Thailand and Iran, as well as foreign dignitaries including former US President George W. Bush, will attend the three-day conference, according to the forum's website.

Boao Forum for Asia held its first annual conference in April 2002. This year, under the theme of "Asia: Managing Beyond Crisis", delegates will deal with topics on challenges and prospects brought to Asia by the global economic crisis, the Boao Forum's website said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2009)