Boao Forum provides platform for fostering economic cooperation: Indian journalist

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) has provided a platform for fostering economic cooperation and regional development, said a senior Indian journalist.

The BFA Annual Conference 2025 is set to start on Tuesday in Boao Town, Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province, with nearly 2,000 representatives from over 60 countries and regions to attend the event.

With the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," this year's event will focus on four key topics: rebuilding trust to promote cooperation, the rebalance of globalization and inclusive development, sustainable development, and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation.

Ahead of this year's event, China Global Television Network (CGTN) spoke with Mewati Sitaram, Editor-in-Chief of the Mumbai Messenger newspaper. He emphasized the significant roles China and India are expected to play at the upcoming forum.

The BFA has consistently provided a platform for fostering economic cooperation and regional development. Given the current geopolitical landscape, there will likely be a strong emphasis on balancing economic growth with stability, Sitaram said.

"China and India, as two of the world's largest emerging economies, bring unique perspective. China can offer insight into advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, state investment and digital transformation, while India's experience in digital finance, start-up ecosystem and IT service can provide valuable model for inclusive growth. Both China and India have a shared interest in advocating for the Global South and ensuring that Asia's growth remain equitable and inclusive," he said.

Seeing that the digital divide remains a significant barrier to balanced global development, Sitaram said the issue should be addressed through international collaboration and policy making.

"The Global South must be an active participant in artificial intelligence development, not just a consumer of AI-driven product. To safeguard its interests, three key areas need focus. The first area is technology access. Open source, artificial intelligence models and public private partnership can ensure that developing countries have access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools. Collaborative research initiative similar to those between India and China in pharmaceutical can be extended to AI and machine learning. Number Two: talent development. Under talent development, AI education and skilling programs must be expanded in emerging economies," he said.

"Third, financial support: International financial institutions and regional development banks should create dedicated fund for AI infrastructure in Global South. China and India can jointly advocate for artificial financing initiative within forums like BRICS, G20 and the AI for good initiative under the United Nations. To bridge the digital divide, international cooperation is essential [for] policymakers to push for AI regulation and ensure use, while also fostering innovation. Infrastructure sharing agreements can help extend digital connectivity to remote areas, ensuring that AI benefits are widely distributed and both countries can have a upper hand in technologies and everything," he added.

Boao Forum provides platform for fostering economic cooperation: Indian journalist

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.

Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.

The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.

Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.

Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest