TOKYO, April 11 -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi left Thursday for China's Hainan Island to attend the Bo'ao Forum of Asia (BFA).

　　The Japanese prime minister is expected to meet with the Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra on the sidelines of the event, Japan's Kyodo News reported.

　　Koizumi will express Japan's intention to boost economic ties with Asian countries in his keynote speech at the first annual conference of the BFA beginning Friday, according to Kyodo.

　　During the summit talks with Zhu, Koizumi will seek an agreement with China on a plan to create a broader framework for economic dialogue between the two countries covering various sectors such as trade and investment, it said.

　　The two leaders is also to discuss bilateral relations between China and Japan, which mark the 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties this year, Kyodo said.

　　The economic forum is organized by a namesake nongovernmental group under the theme of New Century, New Challenge, A New Asia: Economic Development and Cooperation.

　　The Japanese premier will also meet with Shinawatra on Friday afternoon.

　　Koizumi will return to Japan Saturday.