A press conference for the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 takes place in Beijing on January 8 (COURTESY PHOTO)  

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 will be held from March 25 to 28 in Boao, a coastal town in China’s southernmost island province of Hainan, BFA Secretary General Zhang Jun said at a press conference in Beijing on January 8.  

Themed “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future,” the conference will focus on promoting multilateralism, fostering openness and growth, implementing pacts reached during the United Nations Summit of the Future, held at UN headquarters in New York City in September 2024, and exploring ways in which the global community can jointly navigate shared challenges, with a special emphasis on the development of Asia.  

Our world is undergoing a pivotal transition, where major changes and adjustments are profoundly reshaping the international order, Zhang said, noting that the BFA should assume larger roles and greater responsibilities in addressing these global changes.As Zhang introduced, the event will be structured around four major topics: building trust and promoting cooperation in a fast-changing world; re-balancing globalization for inclusive development; accelerating the UN Sustainable Development Goals for more effective responses to global challenges; and strengthening artificial intelligence application and governance for innovation-driven development.  

According to Zhang, this year’s agenda will also introduce a slew of new events as part of the BFA’s efforts to stay innovative in a constantly changing world. Starting from this year, the conference will host discussion sessions dedicated to specific countries in the region. The meeting will feature a series of launch events, providing participating organizations with the opportunity to showcase and promote key initiatives, research findings and major charity events. 

The year 2025 is a milestone year for the BFA, as the Hainan Free Trade Port will launch an island‑wide independent customs operation by the end of the year, Bater, Executive Vice Governor of Hainan, said at the press conference.  

As the first major international event to be held in Hainan this year, the BFA, which has been dedicated to promoting cooperation, is perfectly aligned with the vision of the Hainan Free Trade Port, he said, adding that he looks forward to how the two will deepen cooperation in 2025. 

First convened in 2002, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization dedicated to promoting regional economic integration and offering the world an Asian vision of shared prosperity. Many heads of international and regional organizations, ministerial-level officials, Fortune Global 500 entrepreneurs and experts and scholars have already confirmed their participation in this year’s edition, Zhang said.  

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon  

Comments to pengjiawei@cicgamericas.com