On January 16, at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) New Year Outlook 2026, Secretary General Zhang Jun briefed participants on the preparations for the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026. 

Zhang Jun stated that the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 will be held from March 24 to 27 in Hainan. The world today is undergoing profound changes, and the global economic and trade landscape is in a period of significant adjustment. A shared concern for us all is where the world is heading. In today’s complex environment, Asia, as one of the key engines of global economic growth, has an important role to play in charting the way forward and promoting the healthy development of world economy. Against this backdrop, the Boao Forum for Asia stands ready to make a greater contribution to strengthening regional cooperation.  

Zhang Jun noted that Mr. Mu Hong, Vice-Chairperson of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, Vice Chairman of the BFA and China’s Chief Representative to the BFA, had announced the theme of the Annual Conference: “Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation.” This theme conveys a clear message: even as the world undergoes profound change and faces many challenges, new opportunities continue to emerge. With confidence and cooperation, the international community can turn challenges into opportunities, achieve win-win outcomes, and work together toward a brighter future.

Zhang Jun noted that the Annual Conference will be committed to promoting dialogue and exchange, and enhancing mutual understanding and trust. Through a flexible and diverse program, including plenary sessions, high-level dialogues, round-tables, panel discussions, country-specific sessions, and press release events, the forum will provide an open and inclusive platform for interactions. He expressed confidence that every participant will find topics of interest, and opportunities to take part in meaningful discussions.

The Annual Conference will facilitate understanding of major global trends and shaping the way forward for development. Against the backdrop of profound global changes, discussions will focus on bringing greater certainty to an uncertain world, investing in the future, the role of Global South in improving global economic governance, Asia’s leadership in global economic transformation, shifts in global trade landscape under tariff wars, and safeguarding shared economic security. Through these exchanges, the forum seeks to build consensus, strengthen confidence, and contribute greater stability and positive momentum to a world in turbulence and transition.

The Annual Conference will be dedicated to deepening regional cooperation and unlocking growth vitality. In the current global context, regional cooperation has become more vital and urgent than ever before. Discussions will explore how to unleash the potential of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), revitalize APEC toward the Vision of the Asia-Pacific Community, promote new energy cooperation across Asia, develop diversified cross-border payment systems, safeguard financial security and stability, and strengthen cooperation among regional institutions. In doing so, the conference seeks to advance regional integration, enhance connectivity, and provide strong support for an open, stable and inclusive regional economic architecture.

The Annual Conference will also focus onfurther promoting transformation andinnovation, and unleashing development potential. As the global economy undergoes profound shifts, the annual conference will explore critical issues such as Industrial Upgrading Empowered through Digital and Intelligent Technology, advancement and breakthroughs in humanoid robotics, implementing Sustainable Development Goals, green transition, global climate governance, AI-enabled healthcare, blue economy, smart cities, and long-term and value-oriented investment. By engaging with frontier trends, identifying opportunities for cooperation and mapping pathways for concrete action, the conference seeks to strengthen the drivers of economic growth and enhance economic resilience.

The Annual Conference will place a strong emphasis on strengthening partnerships and advancing inclusive development. At a time of once-in-a-century transformation and profound changes, enterprises face numerous challenges in investment decision-making, global investment strategy, sustainable development and risk management. To address these challenges, the forum has specially designed a range of business-focused sessions, including rethinking ESG, shaping the future of enterprises through transformation, and responsibilities of young entrepreneurs, alongside diverse formats of entrepreneur dialogues. Through these exchanges, the conference seeks to help business community better understand global transformation, enhance capacity for sustainable development, and achieve long-term value creation through openness and cooperation.

The Annual Conference will also provide an important platform for participants from all sectors to invest in China and share its development opportunities. As China prepares to implement its 15th Five-Year Plan, a series of new measures are being introduced to further expand high-level opening-up, including advancing the high-quality development of the Hainan Free Trade Port. In this context, the Annual Conference will include sessions on China’s economic outlook, as well as a panel on the Hainan Free Trade Port. Zhang Jun expressed confidence that,through these exchanges, participants will gain a deeper understanding of China and Hainan, and be better positioned to seize new opportunities for investing in China and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

In his remarks at the New Year Outlook 2026, Zhang Jun noted that the forum hasevery reason to welcome the new yearwith confidence and anticipation, while remaining fully prepared to face the challenges ahead. Profound global transformations will continue to unfold, giving rise to both foreseeable and unforeseeable developments. Yet the commitment to multilateralism, open development, dialogue and exchange, win-win cooperation, and jointly building a community with a shared future for humanity remains the common aspirations and shared interests of the international community. Looking ahead, several key trends deserve our close attention. First, the international order is being reshaped amid turbulence. Improving global governance has become more urgent and important than ever, and ensuring security and stability is a key task facing all nations. Second, the global economic and trade architecture is evolving. Diversification, regionalization, and bilateral cooperation are expected to deepen further. Third, the transformation of the world economy is irreversible. Digital and green transitions will become key indicators of the quality and potential of economic performance and industrial development. Fourth, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence in particular, are being adopted at an accelerating pace. They will profoundly transform how people produce, work and live, and will also become a focal point of international competition. The forum will continue to discuss and reflect upon these issues in the sessions ahead, and look forward to working together on solutions at the upcoming Annual Conference.

In conclusion, Zhang Jun said that with the strong support of the Chinese government as the host country and Hainan Province as the host province, under the guidance of the Forum’s Board of Directors, and with the active engagement of members,partners and all stakeholders, the BFA isfully confident in the success of this year’s Annual Conference. BFA will work to the highest standards, take effective actions, and remain fully committed to delivering a Conference of high quality, real substance and lasting impact.