The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) released two flagship reports detailing the latest Asian economic development trends on Tuesday as its annual conference officially got underway in south China's island province of Hainan.
The BFA Annual Conference 2026 is held from March 24 to 27, marking the forum's 25th anniversary. Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation and technological transformation, the event is widely expected to provide forward-looking insights and "Boao solutions" for a world in search of certainty.
Under the theme "Shaping the Future Together: New Trends, New Opportunities and New Cooperation," this year's conference will focus on four key areas and host nearly 50 events, including sub-forums, roundtables and dialogue sessions.
The event kicked off with a press conference on Tuesday morning which introduced the schedule and topics for the annual meeting.
Journalists in attendance also received copies of two flagship BFA reports, one focusing on Asia's economic outlook and another themed on "sustainable development."
The former report, titled "Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress", indicated that Asian economies remain the primary engine of world economic growth, with their share of global GDP expected to rise from 49.2 percent in 2025 to 49.7 percent in 2026. It also highlighted how China and the ASEAN region continue to stand out as regional "anchors of stability."
The second report, which was titled "Sustainable Development in Asia amid Global Transformation", noted that Asia is leading the global energy transition, with the region accounting for some 70 percent of annual new clean energy capacity installations worldwide.
The opening day of the annual Boao conference will see multiple sub-forums and special release events covering key topics such as China's economic outlook, regional organizational cooperation, and global free trade ports.
BFA Annual Conference releases reports on Asian economic outlook, sustainable development
BFA Annual Conference releases reports on Asian economic outlook, sustainable development
The 2026 Beijing E‑Town Half Marathon, also known as the Humanoid Robot Half‑Marathon, will kick off on April 19, organizers said Monday.
Co‑hosted by the Beijing Municipal People's Government and China Media Group (CMG), the event has received over 100 registations, including more than 80 corporate squads and more than 20 from universities and training camps. Over 300 humanoid robots will compete, with the number of teams rising nearly fivefold from last year, organizers said.
The world's first humanoid robot half‑marathon was held in Beijing on April 19, 2025, drawing 20 teams of "mechanical athletes." While the debut race was marked by battery failures, robots veering off course and even head‑bumping falls, it also showcased ingenuity, resilience and public enthusiasm, lessons that organizers say have guided improvements for this year's expanded event.
"The number of robot brands showcased has reached 26, covering nearly all mainstream robot brands on the market. This fully demonstrates the thriving vitality of our robotics industry, from technological research and development to product innovation," said Liu Weiliang, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology.
"Compared to last year, the robots can be summed up in four words: stronger, faster, more autonomous, and more intelligent. Compared to last year, the participating robots have achieved comprehensive upgrades in motion control, autonomous decision-making, and adaptation to complex road conditions," said Xu Mengzhe, head of the Publicity Team for the 2026 Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon Organizing Committee.
To strengthen professionalism and ensure fairness, organizers refined competition rules after the first practice test and introduced new formats for robot challenges.
"We have created a new event called the Robot 'Baturu' Challenge. Through diverse testing scenarios that combine 'realistic disaster reconstruction' and 'simulated functional modules,' we have set up 17 challenging obstacles to comprehensively evaluate the robots' stability, movement flexibility, and emergency response capabilities," said Li Quan, deputy director of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area Management Committee.
Organizers also expect strong public turnout, with families and tech enthusiasts anticipated to line the course, echoing the enthusiasm seen at last year's debut.
The marathon is not only a showcase of humanoid robotics but also part of China's broader push to position itself as a global hub for innovation and industrial application of advanced technologies.
Beijing E-Town humanoid robot half-marathon set for April
