China News Service, March 28 (Gantian) It is the early spring of another year, and the world’s attention is once again focused on Boao, a coastal town located in the southern tip of China. From March 26 to 29, the Boao Forum for Asia 2024 Annual Conference with the theme of "Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Common Responsibilities" was held here.
Nearly 2,000 representatives from more than 60 countries and regions gathered together to focus on the four major topics of "world economy", "technological innovation", "social development" and "international cooperation". People expect that the forum will bring together Boao wisdom in innovation and development and contribute Boao solutions to a better future for the world.
On March 28, the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia 2024 Annual Conference was held in Boao, Hainan.
Keyword 1: Looking forward to “Asian Power”
Currently, protectionism and pan-security are impacting the world economy, while unilateralism and group politics have severely damaged the international system. How should Asian countries optimize industrial and supply chain cooperation, enhance competitiveness, and reduce external shocks? How can we better build Asia into the growth center of the world economy?
Recently, two blockbuster reports were released by the Boao Forum for Asia 2024 Annual Conference, which looked forward to Asia's economic prospects and pointed out future development opportunities.
"Asia's Economic Prospects and Integration Process 2024 Annual Report" predicts that Asia's economic growth will reach about 4.5% in 2024 and will remain the region that contributes the most to global economic growth; "Sustainable Development of Asia and the World 2024 Annual Report" It was also pointed out that energy transformation is the key to promoting Asia's green industrial revolution and achieving green development.
In this regard, Yoshiko Shimizu, executive director of the Bank of Japan, pointed out in her speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference that thanks to policy advantages, Asian economies and financial markets have strong resilience, especially China. "The Asian economy maintains a relatively high growth rate, making this region increasingly the center of global development."
Zafar Uddin Mahmoud, Policy Advisor to the Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia, also attended the Boao Forum for Asia 2024 Annual Conference. In an interview with the media, he said that China has played an important role in promoting Asian economic recovery and Asian regional integration. plays an important role. Mahmoud also pointed out that "the outside world is very concerned about China's accelerated development of new productive forces and hopes to understand the new growth points of China's economy in the future. I believe that China will continue to contribute to the promotion of global common development."
On March 26, the "Investing in Asia's Future" sub-forum at the 2024 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference was held in Boao, Hainan. The picture shows Yoshiko Shimizu, executive director of the Bank of Japan, speaking at the forum.
Keyword 2: Strengthening the technological “engine”
Scientific and technological innovation is an important engine for the development of human society and a powerful weapon to deal with global challenges. At this year's Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, many experts and scholars attending the meeting believed that the development of artificial intelligence has deeply empowered industrial upgrading and provided new opportunities for win-win economic cooperation in Asia and even the world.
Professor Kyoung Mu Lee of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University pointed out in his speech at the forum that artificial intelligence is developing at an unprecedented speed and is deeply integrated with various industries. In the future, it can help humans develop more fields and help research new materials and new environments.
Many representatives of the German business community also expressed concern about China's leading advantages in technological innovation. Data released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology show that in 2023, the scale of China's core artificial intelligence industry will reach 578.4 billion yuan, with a growth rate of 13.9%. The 2024 Chinese Government Work Report also proposed to deepen the research and development applications of big data, artificial intelligence, etc., carry out the "artificial intelligence +" action, and create an internationally competitive digital industry cluster.
In this regard, Nils Horstmann, managing director of a German digital marketing services company, said in an interview with the media during the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, “Especially in terms of digitalization, China’s innovation achievements are amazing, including New platforms, new models, we can learn from them.”
On March 27, the Boao Forum for Asia 2024 Annual Conference "Innovation, Green, Digital Intelligence, and Integration" Leading High-Quality Development Sub-forum was held in Boao, Hainan. The picture shows Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, speaking at the sub-forum via video.
Keyword 3: Seek cooperation and development together
How to avoid slipping into trade protectionism? What are the challenges in climate investment and financing? As competition and opposition between major powers intensifies, how should all parties strengthen coordination? Faced with the common problems faced by all countries in the global development, the guests at the meeting unanimously issued a call - to work hand in hand and achieve win-win cooperation.
According to reports, this annual meeting has nearly 2,000 representatives from more than 60 countries and regions, and more than 1,100 journalists from about 40 countries and regions. Among them, they include President Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Adion of Nauru, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Gunawardena, Prime Minister of Dominica Skerrit, Chairman of the Cambodian King’s Advisory Council Hun Sen, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization Deng Hongsen, Economic Cooperation and international dignitaries such as Coleman, Secretary-General of the Development Organization.
How to strengthen cooperation and meet challenges together? Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, pointed out in a video speech that both the political and business circles should play a role and shoulder their responsibilities to jointly address climate change, poverty, inequality, stagnant growth, and fatigue and other global challenges.
"Don't evade responsibilities. All parties should do their part so that the world can be safer, more prosperous, and more sustainable." Ban Ki-moon emphasized.
Conveying the voice of win-win cooperation and forming a synergy for common development, the small town of Boao has already transformed from an ordinary small fishing village into an important platform for Chinese and foreign experts to seek common development. It is believed that Boao’s “circle of friends” will become wider and wider, and more consensus will be gathered in the face of the complex international environment. (over)