Beijing, Nov 02: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today raised the Kashmir issue publicly in China saying the long-standing conflict of Palestine and Kashmir were among the issues of "utmost concern" and hoped that the upcoming Saarc summit in Islamabad would provide a fresh impetus to commercial and economic cooperation in South Asia. "Of utmost concern is the globalisation of terror, unresolved crises in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Korean peninsula as well as the long-standing conflict of occupation of Palestine and Kashmir," Musharraf said in his keynote speech at the second annual summit of Boao forum for Asia in the picturesque Boao city in Hainan.

The Boao forum for Asia, established in 2001 is touted as "Asia's Davos". It is the only non-official and non-commercial international organisation in Asia. Addressing an August audience that included Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Musharraf, smartly attired in a dark suit, however, did not make any direct reference to the tensions between India and Pakistan.

India is being represented at the BFA by former Prime Minister I K Gujral and Indian ambassador to China Nalin Surie. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is also participating.

Bureau Report