The event starts just a few hours after the closing ceremony in Beijing of China Development Forum (CDF), thus consolidating a dual message from the Asian giant: confidence in its economic prospects and a firm commitment to openness and international cooperation.
under the motto “Asia in a Changing World: Towards a Shared Future”This year's edition brings together more than 2.000 representatives from over 60 countries and regions, including heads of state, senior officials, leading business leaders, and academics. According to the organizers, the forum will feature nearly 50 sessions focused on key topics such as building trust in an unstable geopolitical environment, the need to rebalance globalization to achieve more inclusive development, the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the governance of artificial intelligence as a driver of innovation.
Vice President of China's State Council, Ding Xuexiang, will deliver the opening address at the forum this Thursday. Among the international leaders who have already confirmed their attendance are the Prime Minister of Laos, Sonexay Siphandone; Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Alexey Overchuk; First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Roman Sklyar; and the senior advisor to the Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus.
The president of the forum and former secretary general of the UN, Ban Ki-moonIn an official address, Ban emphasized that 2025 will be a year marked by new challenges, including the rise of protectionism, unilateralism, and the effects of leadership changes in more than 70 countries. However, he stressed that Asia—and Boao in particular—is sending "a different signal," emerging as an engine of global growth, a center of technological innovation, and a benchmark in sustainability. "The Asian miracle, to a large extent, is also the miracle of globalization and deep integration with the world economy," Ban noted.
One of the most striking aspects of this edition is the forum's green dimension. Beyond the sessions dedicated to sustainable development, Boao presents itself as a showcase for China's commitment to climate neutrality. In recent years, the city has promoted a Nearly Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone, which managed to reduce its emissions by 2024% in 96,2, becoming the first region in the country to achieve this goal. Electric vehicles, green infrastructure, and technological solutions applied to sustainability shape the environment of this international forum.
For many analysts, this “Boao moment” comes in a strategic context for China. The recently celebrated China Development Forum has already made clear the country's intention to position itself as a guarantor of global economic stability, in contrast to the growing trade tensions driven by other powers. As the researcher expressed Zhou Mi, from the Chinese Academy of International Business, “While U.S. economic volatility and uncertainty in its foreign policy are leading many companies to rethink their strategies, China offers an open and predictable environment.”
This desire for structural transformation is also perceived in the private sector. Marc Horn, president of the German technology company Merck in China and a participant in both forums, noted: “China continues to focus on a transformation toward higher-quality growth. We call it greener, healthier, more digital. And we believe we can contribute significantly in that direction.”
The coincidence of these two major meetings—the CDF in Beijing and the BFA in Hainan—is no coincidence. Both forums allow China to project its development model, attract investment, strengthen its ties with international partners, and demonstrate its willingness to share the benefits of its growth. In Ban Ki-moon's words, Asia is not only leading economic development but has also become a clear voice in favor of multilateralism, free trade, and global cooperation.
In a world marked by uncertainty, Boao aspires to become a beacon of dialogue and stability.
Any questions about this news?
Talk to Coexia, the AI of the foreign trade
