Boao Forum for Asia announced two conferences in Perth, Australia, and Paris later this year at a press conference on May 19, 2011. [BFA]

The Boao Forum for Asia announced Thursday that it will hold two special events in Australia and France in the latter half of this year.

The BFA Energy, Resources and Sustainable Development Conference will be held July 11-12 in Perth, Australia, while the BFA International Capital Conference is scheduled for November 23-24 in Paris, France.

BFA holds a series of conferences each year in Asia and other parts of the world in addition to its Annual Conference in April in Boao, Hainan Province. These conferences focus more on regional and industry issues, and feedback from these conferences form the basis for the Annual Conference.

"These conferences outside China will help expand Boao Forum's influence around the world," said Zhou Wenzhong, BFA secretary general and former ambassador to the United States.

Australia, one of the initial 28 countries of the BFA, was chosen as the site of the Energy, Resources and Sustainable Development Conference for its close and long-standing relationship with the BFA, Zhou said. Former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke is one of the three founders of the BFA and was a long-time member of the BFA Board of Directors.

About 300 government officials, executives and scholars will participate in the Perth conference, discussing major issues including global energy and resources supply and demand, new technologies, and investment in Australia's infrastructure. Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett, Minister of Resources Martin Ferguson and Chinese former Director of the National Energy Administration Zhao Guobao have confirmed their attendance.

"Cooperation and win-win have been the everlasting theme of the BFA. The Perth conference will go along the line," Zhou said.

The Third International Capital Conference in November will be co-hosted by the BFA, the French Ministry of Finance and Cavendish Group International. With a theme of "Cooperation, Innovation and Development," the event will have delegates from emerging economies, including China, Brazil, Russia and India.

"Following shortly after the G-20 leaders' summit from November 3-4 in Cannes, France, ICC 2011 will include ministerial-level sessions on the international economy as well as panels on capital-raising in Europe, M&A for Chinese companies, cooperation in high-tech companies and the development of the Chinese financial sector," Zhou said.