Scholars from Singapore and Pakistan said the Boao Forum offers a platform for stability and development at a time of global turmoil, with escalating tensions in the Middle East adding to uncertainty.
The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026 will be held from Tuesday to Friday in Boao, a coastal town in Qionghai City, Hainan Province. Themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation," it will feature four core topics and more than 50 sub-forums, roundtables and dialogue sessions.
Lawrence Loh, director of the Center for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore, said China's development as host of the Boao Forum carries global benefits amid mounting instability.
"I think if you look at Boao Forum, it is not just a forum, it is not just about China. In fact, it is a platform in which Asia can actually stabilize the world, especially in this time when we have complexity in the geopolitical situation. China's development can be an international public good. So in other words, riding on China's progress, countries in the region, in Asia and beyond can actually move up together. And I think through the Boao Conference, it is very clear that we can see China's exerting its responsibility. In fact, China is for the world and China is with the world,” he said.
Pakistani scholar Hassan Daud Butt hailed the Boao Forum as a vital dialogue platform, stressing its importance at a time of rising geopolitical tensions.
"I think this year's Boao forum is happening at a very important time when the world is in flux, there is a lot of chaos and vulnerability, especially in the Middle East between USA and Iran, and a lot of destruction is happening. But in China, we see a lot of discussion around inclusive growth, prosperity, shared future. Therefore, I think forums like Boao are very, very important," said Hassan Daud Butt, Senior Associate Professor, Bahria University and also former Project Director of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Founded in 2001, the BFA has become a key platform for discussing Asian issues and strengthening cooperation within the region and with the wider world.
Scholars laud Boao Forum as platform for stability, development amid global turmoil
China has turned green technologies once confined to textbooks into everyday life, said Milla, a Kazakhstan student in Beijing, as she shared her experiences and perspectives on the country’s green development and the application of new energy in daily life.
Milla described how China's push for sustainability is visible not only in national policy but also in her everyday campus life at Tsinghua University. Navigating the historic grounds, the economics student relies on a bicycle to get between classes, a choice she finds both convenient and environmentally friendly.
She added that the university actively promotes sustainability through initiatives such as recycling systems and water-conservation reminders, noting that shared bicycles have become a practical feature of campus life.
"I really love seeing how Tsinghua University is trying to become greener. There are many small initiatives that encourage students to live more sustainably, such as recycling systems, reminding not to waste water, and shared bicycles all across campus," she said.
Milla's observation extend far beyond the university gates. She noticed the rapid proliferation of electric vehicles, identifiable by their distinctive green license plates. What has left Milla an even deeper impression is the emergence of hydrogen-powered vehicles, a technology she first encountered not on the street, but in a high school textbook.
"Another thing that amazed me even more was seeing hydrogen-powered buses. I was actually so surprised when I first saw one. Hydrogen energy is something I became interested in back in 10th grade, when I first saw it in a textbook. Hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel. When hydrogen is used to produce energy, the main byproduct is water instead of harmful emissions, which makes it one of the most clean energy sources scientists are developing today. Seeing how hydrogen-powered vehicles are working in real life made me realize that technologies we once only read about in textbooks are slowly becoming a part of everyday life," said Milla.
Milla said that witnessing these technologies in action has reinforced a broader understanding of solving environmental problems.
"For me, learning about these technologies is incredibly exciting. It shows that solving environmental problems is not only about reducing emissions but it's also about innovating and thinking about new ways, how to make energy. Studying economics while still being interested in environmental protection allows me to see how technology, policy and economic systems can work together to build a cleaner and a more sustainable future," she said.
Her remarks are also being vividly manifested at the upcoming Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 prepares to be held in Hainan from March 24 to 27, when green and smart operations will be a key feature. All venues will be powered by 100 percent renewable electricity throughout the conference, with total power consumption expected to reach about two million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 1,200 tonnes. Meanwhile, a number of AI-powered systems will be deployed for the first time.
Thousands of representatives from government, business and academia will gather under the theme "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, and New Cooperation." The conference will spotlight pressing topics and build consensus on cooperation through nearly 50 sub-forums, roundtables and dialogues.
Kazakh student commends China's green tech shift from textbooks to everyday life
