Overseas Web Commentary: The World Watches the "Boao Moment," Anticipating the "Boao Voice"

Question AI · Why do international leaders view Boao as a cooperation platform for a turbulent world?

Source: Overseas Network

This is a theme promotional sign for the 2026 Annual Conference of the Boao Asia Forum on the Boao Grand Bridge. (Photo / Xinhua News Agency)

“The Boao Asia Forum annual conference reflects China’s important role in promoting dialogue and cooperation”“The Boao Asia Forum has special symbolic significance”“In this forum, we all focus on the ‘15th Five-Year Plan’, which provides clear direction for enterprises in China”… Held in Boao, Hainan from March 24 to 27, the Boao Asia Forum 2026 Annual Conference brings together elites from political, business and academic circles around the world, focusing on the conference theme “Shaping a Shared Future: New Circumstances, New Opportunities, New Cooperation.” In the opening year of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” this annual conference not only meets the practical needs of regional cooperation, but also becomes an important window for the world to observe China and understand Asia.

The world watches “Boao Time,” and looks forward to “Boao Voice.” In today’s increasingly turbulent international situation, “Boao Time” is drawing so much attention because it provides the world with an important platform for dialogue and communication. During each annual forum, political leaders, business leaders, and academic elites from different countries gather together to conduct intensive exchanges on topics such as Asia’s economic trends, paths for regional cooperation, and the development of technological innovation. “Boao Voice” is anticipated so highly because it carries the real expectations for openness, inclusiveness, and shared development. From promoting trade liberalization to advocating for a more open-world economy, from emphasizing connectivity to focusing on green transformation, “Boao Voice” has gradually formed a value system centered on win-win cooperation and inclusive development. This year’s Boao Asia Forum annual conference focuses on four major segments, including “Grasping the overall trends of the world and guiding the direction of development” and “Deepening regional cooperation to unleash strong vitality.” It will host more than 50 series of activities, such as sub-forums, roundtables, and dialogues, with the aim of building consensus through in-depth dialogue, providing the world with more certainty, and injecting more positive energy. On March 25, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, at a regular press conference, commented that dialogue mechanisms such as the Boao Asia Forum help deepen regional cooperation and clarify specific directions for strengthening economic and trade cooperation. On the 24th, South Korea’s “pinpoint news” website said that this annual conference will become an important opportunity to seek cooperation solutions amid multiple crises intertwined with war, trade protectionism, and technological competition.

“We must commend China, because China has outstanding five-year plans,” said this comment from Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the former French prime minister, who attended this annual conference. This year’s Boao Asia Forum annual conference coincides with the new start of the “15th Five-Year Plan.” The newly released Outline of the “15th Five-Year Plan” is both a “blueprint” for promoting Chinese-style modernization and an “invitation letter” for China and other countries to advance shared modernization. During this annual conference, many guests from political, business and academic circles held in-depth exchanges around topics such as “China’s economic outlook: focusing on high-quality development” and “Invest in China, share the future,” gaining an appreciation of the rich and diverse underpinnings of China’s economic development. Of particular note, participants have paid close attention to the Outline of the “15th Five-Year Plan” released by China, hoping to find from it the direction of China’s advance, the changes in the trends of the times, and the direction of world development—so as to better seize new opportunities to invest in China and achieve win-win outcomes. Diederik P. Dassen, Co-CEO of Roland Berger Global Management Committee, believes that China’s firm commitment to technological innovation during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period will enable it to move into a global leading position in frontier fields. Micaele Gerazzi, former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Development of Italy, is also firmly convinced that during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, China will continue to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with countries around the world, providing more opportunities for foreign investors. The enthusiastic discussions at this annual conference on the “15th Five-Year” blueprint convey a clear signal to the world: in an uncertain world, China’s certainty is the most valuable resource worth cherishing.

In the 25 years since its establishment, the Boao Asia Forum has witnessed an important course in Asia’s development. In 2001, in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, the Boao Asia Forum came into being. Since then, Boao—once an obscure coastal fishing village—has become an important window connecting Asia and the world. Over these 25 years, the forum has always upheld its original aspiration of “based in Asia, with a world in mind,” from the focus on “New Century, New Challenges, New Asia” at the first annual conference, to the present theme of “Shaping a Shared Future: New Circumstances, New Opportunities, New Cooperation,” always keeping pace with the times and responding to the development needs of countries across Asia. These 25 years have been marked by Asia’s economic resilience standing out and its vitality surging, as well as by deepening cooperation in Asia and increasingly close connections—from the continued release of benefits under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to the upgrade of the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area. In cooperation, Asian countries have addressed development challenges, and together they have created a better future. Standing at the historical milestone of its 25th anniversary, this year’s annual conference is not only a commemorative event, but also a strategic re-positioning for the future. Philippine former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that “this year’s forum is of milestone significance for the development of the Boao Asia Forum. As China’s global influence continues to grow, the role of the Boao Asia Forum is becoming increasingly prominent, turning into an important platform where political, business and academic figures from Asia-Pacific and other countries around the world gather to exchange ideas and engage in dialogue.”

Only a better Asia can make a better world. In the year of the new start, a more open and more vibrant China will continue to work hand in hand with countries in Asia and around the world, join hands with one heart and carry on without pause, and create a better future for Asia and the world. (Overseas Network commentator)

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