The 2026 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference commenced its plenary session today in Hainan Province, bringing together global leaders to address Asia's evolving economic landscape. Against the backdrop of accelerating regional integration, this year's forum centers on three key themes: sustainable development, digital innovation, and cross-border collaboration.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the opening address, emphasizing "the irreplaceable role of Asian economies in stabilizing global supply chains." Over 2,000 delegates from 60 countries and regions are participating, including representatives from ASEAN nations, the Republic of Korea, and the DPRK.
Notable sessions include:
A panel on green energy transition featuring executives from Shanghai Electric and Vietnam's VinGroup
A digital economy roundtable with Alibaba Cloud and India's Infosys
Closed-door discussions on cross-strait economic cooperation
Business analysts highlight the forum's timing ahead of major infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative's 2030 roadmap. The conference concludes Saturday with expected announcements about new regional trade mechanisms.
