The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026, with the theme of "Shaping a Common Future: New Situations, New Opportunities, and New Cooperation," is about to kick off. Zhang Jun, Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia, stated that this year's theme aims to convey a message: the global changes are both full of challenges and contain new opportunities. We must strengthen our confidence, create opportunities in challenges, achieve win-win results in cooperation, and work together to build a better future. Geopolitical conflicts, unilateral sanctions, tariff barriers, technological blockades... Currently, the international situation is becoming increasingly unstable and uncertain. The latest global economic and trade friction index released by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade shows that the global economic and trade friction index in December 2025 will be 104, continuing to be at a high level. Amidst the storms, Asia provides invaluable certainty for the global economy. Pang Ming, a specially appointed senior researcher at the National Finance and Development Laboratory, stated in an interview with China News Service that Asian economies still maintain overall resilience under multiple challenges: the Chinese economy seeks a balance between stable growth and promoting transformation; The Indian economy maintains a high growth rate; ASEAN countries benefit from supply chain restructuring; Japan and South Korea are accelerating their layout in areas such as semiconductors and green energy. Associate Professor Tang Yao from the Guanghua School of Management at Peking University stated that Asia is a rapidly growing region in terms of both supply and demand, and has the conditions to lead economic development in terms of size. According to data, based on purchasing power parity, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Asian countries will account for approximately 49% of the global total by 2025. In the view of Chen Fengying, a researcher at the World Economy Research Institute of the China Institute of Modern International Relations, Asia plays the role of a global economic "stabilizer" and "security anchor" under the characteristics of large scale and high growth. To better leverage the role of a 'stabilizer', 'cooperation' is the key word. The attendees of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference will discuss how regional organizations can align with the development strategies of various countries and work together in the theme of "Strengthening Regional Organization Cooperation and Forming Policy Coordination Forces"; In the theme of "Maintaining Common Economic Security: The Power of the Rule of Law", analyze how to prevent the weaponization of economic security issues and safeguard the legitimate security and development interests of all countries. Win win cooperation has always been the main theme of Asian development, and the Boao Forum for Asia has always upheld the spirit of multilateralism in its 25 year history. ”Li Yong, a researcher at the China International Trade Association, said. Pang Ming believes that by advocating open cooperation and promoting regional integration, the Boao Forum for Asia can make Asia not only a "participant" and "follower" in global governance, but also gradually become a "rule maker" and "action leader". Tang Yao stated that what is needed now is to gather consensus and translate the vision into feasible solutions for real-world governance through action. Boao will once again answer the question of cooperation in Asia. Thousands of guests from the global political and business academic community will gather in Boao, Hainan to discuss strategies for responding to changes, the path to prosperity and development, and the future of Asia. (New Society)