World Leaders Gather in China for the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia

The 2018 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) opened today in Boao, Hainan. It will last four days and host around 2,000 guests from over 60 countries and regions around the world.

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The theme of this year’s BFA is “An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity”. The theme is furthered divided into four modules of “Globalization & the Belt and Road Initiative”, “An Open Asia”, “Innovation” and “Reform”. There will be over 60 different discussions with attendees from over 100 of the Fortune 500 companies.

According to the director of the forum, this year’s annual conference has set up a special sub-forum on “Successful Cases and Experiences of the Belt and Road”. There will be case study presentations on major infrastructure projects such as the Gwadar Port project and the Trans-Eurasia Logistics project.

Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia says that

the Belt and Road Initiative based on the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits can be said to be China’s take on globalization.

In addition to topics covering the economy, this year’s annual conference will also cover various topics including culture, arts, public welfare and sports. The forum will hold its first press conference this afternoon and release three academic reports including “the Asian Economic Integration Report” at the same time. There will also be a roundtable discussion for youth leaders and a sub-forum on health care.