The annual Boao Forum is holding its 25th anniversary meeting (founded in 2001) in Hainan, China, March 24-27, with the theme, “Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation.” More than 2,000 leaders from around the world are attending. The conference describes itself as focusing on “high-quality growth, green technologies, digitalization, and AI, with China aiming for a 2026 growth target around 4.5%-5%.”
The speakers were mostly from Asia, including government leaders, business executives, and scholars. Several formerly leading Italians spoke, including Giovanni Tria, Italy’s former minister of economy and finance, and former Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
The panel, “Safeguarding Common Economic Security: the Power of the Rule of Law;” provided an opportunity to deal with the dangers of the weaponization of tariffs. Other panels included: “The AI Era: Ascending Dynamics for Industries,” “Advancement and Breakthrough of Humanoid Robotics,” and “Revitalizing APEC: towards the Vision of an Asia-Pacific Community.”
Reuters posted a cynical article, “China’s ‘Davos’ loses lustre as debate dims, face time with leaders fades,” complaining that neither Xi Jinping nor Wang Yi gave keynote presentations. Rather, the keynote was given to “China’s number three leader, Zhao Leji,” who is a lowly “Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China.” Zhao, they wrote, “gave familiar warnings on the danger of regional wars and power politics, urging ‘peace and tranquillity,’ not combat, without mentioning Russia’s war in Ukraine or the Iran conflict.” Vice Premier He Lifung attended, meeting the leaders of several U.S. firms.
Reuters quoted American economist Stephen Roach, former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, who said that Boao had “lost its soul,” complaining that he had not been invited to speak.
