Guests of the Boao Forum for Asia discuss the global contribution of the Asian economy - the significant significance and enormous potential of regional cooperation in Asia (focusing on the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026)
On March 24th, the press conference and flagship report conference of the Boao Forum for Asia 2026 Annual Conference were held in Boao, Hainan. The "Asia Economic Outlook and Integration Process 2026 Annual Report" and "Sustainable Development Asia and the World 2026 Annual Report" released at the meeting show that the Asian economy is showing strong resilience and positive trends, making important contributions to the world economy and sustainable development. The attendees believe that regional cooperation in Asia is of great significance and enormous potential. All parties should strengthen their confidence in cooperation, work together to address challenges, and inject more certainty and positive energy into the turbulent world.
Asian economies demonstrate strong resilience
The 2026 Report on Sustainable Development in Asia and the World points out that Asia shoulders an important mission and plays a key role in promoting global economic growth, leading the transformation of the world economy, and improving global governance. With the joint efforts of various economies in the region, the overall progress of implementing the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in Asia is at a good level globally, with 10 out of 17 goals making progress exceeding the average level of other regions. The Asian economy has demonstrated strong resilience. Joseph, Executive Director of the Indonesian Center for Strategic and International Studies, stated that it is expected that the gross domestic product (GDP) of Asian economies will rise to 49.7% of the world economy this year. "Asia is the main provider of global trade demand and goods, and an important driving force for promoting global economic progress.
Currently, infrastructure such as cross-border power grids and renewable energy projects in the region are steadily advancing, and the connectivity of rules and standards is expanding to areas such as digital trade and cross-border payments. In the context of the great changes in the world, Asia is facing many new opportunities for development, "said Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Asian economies all hope to promote high-tech development. China focuses on promoting high-quality development with new quality productive forces, providing cooperation opportunities for all parties in the region.
Holger Binman, Vice President of the Executive Council of the International Chamber of Commerce, believes that the real opportunity lies in rebuilding global confidence in free trade. In an era full of uncertainty, openness itself is a powerful force. He said, "We need to build new bridges to connect different regions and populations
The current international situation is turbulent, and "stability" has become a high-frequency term at the forum's annual meeting. The theme of this annual meeting is to confront real issues and align with the current global economic landscape, geopolitical environment, and other new situations. Dai Pu, Co President of the Roland Berger Global Management Committee, stated that China and other countries in the Asia Pacific region are committed to using peace, cooperation, and multilateralism as stable anchors to play an important role in turbulent environments, which is crucial for boosting investor confidence and creating a stable investment environment.
Technological innovation broadens opportunities for cooperation
The 2026 Annual Report on Asian Economic Prospects and Integration Processes shows that as the global focus of artificial intelligence development shifts towards Asia, Asian economies are transforming from followers of artificial intelligence to leaders, reshaping the global artificial intelligence innovation order with their large digital populations, rich application scenarios, and systematic policy promotion.
What is the underlying driving force behind Asia's' smart rise '? From the outline of the 15th Five Year Plan, China has made a scientific plan for the development of artificial intelligence, "said Chen Lan, a partner at Deloitte China Research Center. China has formed a systematic layout in computing infrastructure, talent cultivation, industrial support, governance system, and other aspects. Asian countries should build a talent cultivation and exchange ecosystem, establish a cross-border technology cooperation platform, and form long-term effective development advantages.
Artificial intelligence is accelerating its integration into various industries, and the embodied intelligence industry is accelerating the transformation of achievements, opening up broader cooperation space for Asian countries. Currently, the acceleration of commercialization and scale development in the embodied intelligence industry will promote the pace of technological innovation and cooperation in Asia, "said Wang Xiaogang, Chairman of Daxiao Robotics." We have deep cooperation with overseas universities such as Nanyang Technological University in Singapore to develop technologies such as data collection and embodied interaction, and through cross-border scientific research cooperation, we will help embodied intelligence achieve intelligent leaps
Technological empowerment is profoundly changing the economic landscape of Asia, deepening regional cooperation to benefit more and more Asian countries and peoples with technological dividends. Michele Geraci, the former deputy minister of the Ministry of Economic Development of Italy, shared his personal experience: "Now, I travel from Laos to China by train. Thanks to the construction of the China Laos railway, the train speed has reached 150 kilometers per hour, shortening the journey time." In his view, cooperation in science and technology, infrastructure and other fields is promoting the common development of Asian countries.
This is my third time in Hainan and I feel that innovation is everywhere, "said Robert Koopman, former chief economist of the World Trade Organization and professor at American University." China has made extraordinary progress in the field of artificial intelligence, and its spillover effects have benefited the world.
Former caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, Kakar, stated that countries should leverage their own strengths to engage in deep cooperation. "China adheres to an open and inclusive attitude, works hand in hand with partners from all countries to achieve win-win cooperation, and Pakistan benefits from it.
Asia is developing rapidly in digital infrastructure, "said Volkan Bozkel, President of the 75th United Nations General Assembly." Asia Pacific countries are building a multi-level and multi-path digital infrastructure system, laying a more solid foundation for Asia's digital transformation and sustainable development.
The promotion of integration enhances confidence
Since its establishment 25 years ago, the Boao Forum for Asia has witnessed an important process of Asian development. From the launch of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to the formal signing of the 3.0 version of the upgrading protocol of the China ASEAN Free Trade Area, from the China Laos Railway, Ya'an Wanzhou High speed Railway that has been opened to traffic to the Malaysian East Coast Railway that is under construction, Asia's regional cooperation is vibrant.
Under the new situation, regional cooperation has become more important and urgent. This annual meeting will explore how to deepen regional integration cooperation, enhance connectivity in key areas, and provide strong support for building an open, stable, and inclusive regional economic pattern.
This year's annual conference is of milestone significance for the development of the Boao Forum for Asia. With China's increasing global influence, the role of the Boao Forum for Asia is becoming increasingly prominent, becoming an important platform for communication and dialogue among political, business, and academic professionals from various countries in the Asia Pacific region and around the world. Former Philippine President Arroyo said that China's important statements at the forum have helped boost confidence in world development.
Speaking of regional integration, Pedro Rosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, stated that APEC members are becoming increasingly diverse and more effective in promoting economic integration, trade integration, and investment integration.
Asian countries hope to further promote integrated economic cooperation. "Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, Saribay, said that geopolitical tensions, instability in international trade, and protectionism pose challenges to world development, and the promotion of Asian economic integration will enhance confidence among all parties.
China is crucial in promoting regional cooperation and development in Asia, "said Stocheska, Director General of the Asia Europe Fund." Exchange and mutual learning will drive the digitalization process and the promotion and use of new technology products.
Zhang Jun, Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia, stated that the forum has always been rooted in Asia and has a global perspective, committed to promoting Asian economic integration, facilitating exchanges and cooperation between regional countries and countries around the world, enhancing understanding and trust, and achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. The process of Asian economic integration and sustainable development is inevitably accompanied by difficulties and challenges. As long as all parties have firm confidence, unite and cooperate, and move forward courageously, they can further promote the high-quality development of the Asian economy and create a new development pattern that supports the "Asian century".