BOAO, Hainan, March 31, (Xinhua/GNA) — As the humid spring breeze drifts in from the South China Sea, Boao, a tranquil town on China’s tropical island of Hainan, once again draws global attention.
The 2026 annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is being held here from March 24 to 27 under the theme “Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation.”
As the world faces increasing geopolitical tensions and rising protectionism, policymakers, business leaders and scholars from across the globe have gathered at the resort town with a shared expectation that “Boao voices” can offer clarity, confidence and consensus at a time of mounting uncertainty.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the BFA. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, said at Thursday’s plenary that the forum has become a prestigious platform for promoting exchanges, collaboration and common development among Asian nations and the wider world.
Only by working together in solidarity can humanity address global risks and challenges and create a better future, Zhao said.
This year, participants have widely viewed Boao as more than an annual gathering. It has become a barometer of Asia’s confidence and a venue where ideas for a more inclusive and balanced form of globalization are tested, an indication that even in turbulent times, dialogue and cooperation remain within reach.
Founded in 2001, the BFA is celebrating its silver jubilee at this year’s annual conference, underscoring both its symbolic weight and the scale of Asia’s transformation.
Over a quarter century ago, few in this once-quiet fishing village at the mouth of the Wanquan River would have imagined it could command the world’s attention one day, nor could they foresee a key platform promoting the development of the whole continent rising from their flake yard.
Yet over the past 25 years, Boao has grown into a platform closely intertwined with Asia’s rise, serving as both a witness to and participant in the region’s transformation.
When the forum was founded, China’s GDP stood at roughly 9.59 trillion yuan (about 1.38 trillion U.S. dollars) and was just a newcomer to the World Trade Organization. Today, the figure has surpassed 140 trillion, with China emerging as a leading advocate of globalization and trade liberalization.
GNA