Overseas Web Commentary: The World Watches "Boao Time" and Looks Forward to the "Boao Voice"

Source: Overseas Network

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

“The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference reflects China’s important role in promoting dialogue and cooperation,” “The Boao Forum for Asia has special symbolic significance,” “This forum focuses on the 14th Five-Year Plan, providing clear direction for enterprises in China” … The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026, held from March 24 to 27 in Boao, Hainan, brings together global political, business, and academic elites, focusing on the theme “Shaping a Common Future: New Situations, New Opportunities, New Cooperation.” In the opening year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, this year’s forum not only meets the practical needs of regional cooperation but also serves as an important window for the world to observe China and understand Asia.

The world is paying attention to “Boao Time” and looking forward to the “Boao Voice.” In the current increasingly turbulent international situation, “Boao Time” is noteworthy because it provides an important platform for dialogue and communication for the world. Each year during the forum, political leaders, business leaders, and academic elites gather to engage in intensive dialogue on topics such as the trends of the Asian economy, paths for regional cooperation, and the development of technological innovation. The anticipation for the “Boao Voice” lies in its embodiment of real expectations for openness, inclusiveness, and common development. From promoting trade liberalization to advocating for an open world economy, from emphasizing connectivity to focusing on green transformation, the “Boao Voice” has gradually formed a value system centered on win-win cooperation and inclusive development. This year’s Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference focuses on four major areas: “Grasping Global Trends and Leading Development Direction,” “Deepening Regional Cooperation and Stimulating Strong Vitality,” and will host over 50 sub-forums, roundtables, dialogues, and other series of activities, aimed at building consensus through in-depth dialogue to provide more certainty and inject more positive energy into the world. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova commented at a regular press conference on March 25 that dialogue mechanisms such as the Boao Forum for Asia help deepen regional cooperation and clarify specific directions for strengthening economic and trade cooperation. The South Korean “pinpoint news” website stated on the 24th that this year’s forum will become an important opportunity to explore cooperative solutions amid multiple crises of war, trade protectionism, and technological competition.

“We must commend China because it has an excellent five-year plan,” this assessment comes from former French Prime Minister Raffarin, who attended this year’s forum. This year’s Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference coincides with the new start of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The recently released outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan is not only a “construction blueprint” for promoting Chinese-style modernization but also an “invitation” for China to advance common modernization with other countries. During this year’s forum, numerous political, business, and academic guests engaged in deep discussions on topics such as “China’s Economic Outlook: Focusing on High-Quality Development” and “Investing in China, Sharing the Future,” experiencing the colorful connotation of China’s economic development. Notably, participants showed high interest in the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan released by China, hoping to explore the direction of China’s progress, the trends of changing times, and the trajectory of global development, in order to better grasp new opportunities for investing in China and achieving win-win outcomes. Dai Pu, co-president of the global management consulting firm Roland Berger, believes that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s firm commitment to technological innovation will enable it to achieve a leading position in frontier fields. Michele Geraci, former Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Italy, firmly believes that during the 14th 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 about the “14th Five-Year Plan” blueprint at this year’s forum send a clear signal to the world: in an uncertain world, China’s certainty is the most cherished resource.

In its 25 years, the Boao Forum for Asia has witnessed the important journey of Asia’s development. Founded in 2001 in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, the Boao Forum for Asia emerged, turning the once-obscure coastal fishing village of Boao into an important window connecting Asia and the world. Over the past 25 years, the forum has consistently upheld its original intention of being “Asia-based and world-minded,” from its first conference focusing on “New Century, New Challenges, New Asia,” to the current theme of “Shaping a Common Future: New Situations, New Opportunities, New Cooperation,” always keeping pace with the times and responding to the development needs of Asian countries. These 25 years have been marked by the resilience and vitality of the Asian economy, as well as deepening cooperation and increasingly close connections among Asian countries, from the continuous release of dividends from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to the upgrading of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, Asian countries are solving development challenges through cooperation and creating a better future together. At this historical juncture of the 25th anniversary, this year’s forum not only serves as a commemorative event but also as a strategic repositioning for the future. Former Philippine President Arroyo, who attended this year’s forum, commented that “this year’s conference is of milestone significance for the development of the Boao Forum for Asia. As China’s global influence continues to rise, the role of the Boao Forum for Asia has become increasingly prominent, becoming an important platform for gathering political, business, and academic figures from the Asia-Pacific region and various countries for dialogue.”

A better world can only be achieved when Asia is good. In this opening year, a more open and vibrant China will continue to work hand in hand with Asian and global countries, united in purpose, to create a better future for Asia and the world. (Commentator from Overseas Network)

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