The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 is set to bring together leaders and thinkers from around the world from March 25 to 28 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province. With the theme “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future“, the conference aims to inspire dialogue, spark innovation, and promote cooperation to build a better future for all.
This year’s event will focus on four main topics: building trust in a fast-changing world, making globalization work for everyone, speeding up action on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to tackle global challenges, and harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for innovation and growth. The forum will address how we can work together to solve big issues like climate change, inequality, and technological disruptions.
According to the BFA’s official website, discussions will explore ways to bridge the digital divide and improve digital skills, so more people can benefit from new technologies. The goal is to reinvigorate multilateralism, promote openness, and fulfill commitments made during the UN Summit of the Future, all while focusing on Asia’s development.
“Developing countries have grown significantly, increasing their share of the world economy from 20% to over 40%,” said Professor Cui Fan from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. “But with 84% of the global population, there’s still a lot of potential. Platforms like the Boao Forum give Asia a chance to have its voice heard and to work together on common challenges.”
Jiang Ying, Deloitte China chair and a national political advisor, emphasized the forum’s importance as a bridge connecting China and the world. “In these changing times filled with challenges, the Boao Forum for Asia helps gather ideas, deepen cooperation, and find solutions to regional and global problems,” she said. “It’s crucial for bringing people together to build a better future.”
Denis Depoux, Global Managing Director at Roland Berger, agreed. “The world is facing many uncertainties that make economic growth difficult,” he noted. “The Boao Forum provides a platform for constructive dialogue, which can help strengthen cooperation and promote prosperity despite the turbulence.”
Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and helping Asian countries reach their development goals. By bringing together leaders from different sectors, the forum aims to create a shared vision for the future.
