Xi's Boao speech sheds light on Asia's road to prosperous, harmonious future

As Asian countries are now standing at a historic juncture, embracing both opportunities and challenges, Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the Boao Forum of Asia on Saturday offered them an enthralling vision of the region's new future and means to achieve it.[Special coverage]

While the Asian countries have already reached consensus on a peaceful and prosperous future, how to realize that goal remains a question of the generation.

Xi's Boao keynote speech is especially noteworthy, because it has shed lights on how to fulfill the vision of building a community of common destiny for a new Asia in the future.

The first and foremost goal for Asia's new future is to maintain peace. This is why Xi called for joint efforts of the Asian countries to pursue peace and stability, urging that "the Cold War mentality should be discarded."

Asia is still being festered by profound and complex threats. Some are the old issues left over from history and others are news ones associated with current disputes. Traditional and non-traditional security threats are also compromising a prospect of a peaceful and safe Asia.

Seeing peaceful dialogues as the only solution, China has signed good-neighborly and friendly cooperation treaties with eight neighboring countries, and is working to conclude the same treaty with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"China stands ready to sign such a treaty with all its neighbors to provide strong support for the development of bilateral relations as well as prosperity and stability in the region," said Xi.

Moreover, as Xi pointed out in his speech, inclusiveness and mutual learning among Asian civilizations are equally important to promote peace and stability in the region.

Asia is the most populous and diverse region in the world, and splendid ancient civilizations and great modern countries have risen from this wondrous land.

But without inclusiveness and tolerance, the Asian countries, which stand out for their vast diversity of cultures, religions and ethnics, can never be brought together, let alone building a community of common destiny.

Xi believed that China's Belt and Road Initiative is the country's contribution in bolstering exchange and dialogue among civilizations and development models.

Presently, more than 60 countries in relevant regions have shown their interest in joining the initiative. And 40 countries, including many developed ones, have agreed to join China in establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

In addition, win-win cooperation and common development are also crucial to building a community of common destiny in Asia.

History has repeatedly shown that no country would benefit from a zero-sum game. And only through win-win cooperation can substantial and sustainable achievements beneficial to all be eventually made possible.

"If you want to go fast, walk alone; and if you want to go far, walk together," the Chinese president quoted an African proverb as saying in his keynote speech.