The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) will soon expand its board of directors from 11 to 13, after a board resolution was passed by a general meeting of BFA members in Boao Thursday.

The two new members will be elected among the BFA's Diamond, Platinum and Initial members in the coming months, said the resolution.

"We hope they will come from the Middle East or West Asia," said BFA Secretary-General Long Yongtu.

This move will seek to boost the overall proportional representation of the board, given the global attention BFA's increasing clout and relevance has been attracting, analysts explained.

In 2006, 850 participants from 39 countries and regions attended the BFA but this figure will expand as more delegates from new countries and regions, such as Saudi Arabia, will attend this year's conference running from April 20-22.

The BFA, an annual event gathering political, business and academic leaders from around the world, aims to provide debate and solutions for all of Asia since ASEAN and APEC omit the interests of south, central and west Asia, Long said.

The current board of directors, acting as senior policy-makers for the non-governmental organization, currently gathers individuals from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines and Sweden. The directors are appointed to the board for a term of three years.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2007)