Energy will be a major subject of discussion at this year's meeting of the Pan-Asian economic forum,a senior Chinese official said here Wednesday.

At the annu al meeting of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) scheduled for April 22 to 24, Asian nations could explore how to stabilize energy prices and balance energy exploration and environmental protection, said BFA Secretary General Long Yongtu at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

The topic chosen is in response to Asian nations' increasing attention to energy.

"They can also exchange views on how to establish a more reasonable and fair energy system worldwide," he said.

In terms of energy, Asia is a mix. Long said that he thinks it is essential for oil importers and suppliers to closely collaborate.

"Asia includes big oil importers like Japan, China, Republic ofKorea and India, while it also boasts oil-rich countries in middleeast and middle Asia," Long said.

A special session will focus on energy cooperation between Australia and Asia, the first of its kind since the inception of the forum, Long said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has confirmed that he will attend.

Monetary policy, exchange rates and innovations of information technology will also be the major subjects of the conference, Long said.

Approximately 1,000 prestigious entrepreneurs, high-ranking officials, economists and scholars from around the world will attend the session, he said.

The forum has always been involved in energy issues, and just chose to highlight the issue this year, Long said. Last year, in conjunction with the Iranian government, it hosted a seminar on energy in Iran's capital Teheran.

Established in 2001, the forum was named after a small scenic town in China's southernmost island province of Hainan.

Source: Xinhua