A press conference for the Annual Conference 2025 of the Boao Forum for Asia is held in Beijing on January 8, 2025. Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

The Annual Conference (AC) of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), which is scheduled to be held in Boao, South China's Hainan Province from March 25 to 28, is expected to gather thoughts, form consensus and strengthen cooperation in promoting multilateralism, improving global governance, enhancing trust and cooperation, and ensuring that the world will stay on the right track, said Zhang Jun, secretary general of the BFA, at a press conference on the annual conference in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the approach of this significant event for Asia.

The theme of Annual Conference 2025 has been set as "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," emphasizing multilateralism, openness, and collective solutions to global challenges while remaining focused on Asia.

Many heads of international and regional organizations, ministerial-level officials, Fortune Global 500 executives, and renowned experts and scholars have already confirmed their participation in the annual conference, per the BFA.

During Wednesday's press conference, Zhang gave a comprehensive introduction on the preparation progress of the AC of this year, which he deems "worth attention, expectation and participation."

He commented the global landscape is undergoing great changes and major adjustments, and the world is at a critical juncture of reshaping the international order.

As main engine and a major driving force of the world economy, Asia needs to work with the international community in strengthening solidarity and cooperation while addressing the challenges together, Zhang said, noting that as a high-end dialogue platform dedicated to promoting development and cooperation, the BFA shall play a more significant role and shoulder greater responsibility.

The Annual Conference 2025 also intends to address global challenges, advance the implementation of the outcomes of the UN Summit of the Future, and joins hands to create a better and shared future for mankind.

In line with tradition, the conference will extend invitations to leaders from numerous countries, including the host country China, policy makers, heads of international organizations, business leaders, experts and scholars, and media representatives, according to the press conference.

Zhang introduced that the BFA Annual Conference 2025 will discuss topics in four categories, including "Building Trust and Promoting Cooperation in a Fast-Changing World," "Re-balancing Globalization for Inclusive Development," and "Strengthening AI Application and Governance for Innovation-Driven Development."

Since its inception over 20 years ago, the Boao Forum for Asia has been committed to promoting economic cooperation and common development in Asia and beyond. Faced with the undergoing unprecedented changes and the rapid progress, BFA is endowed with greater responsibilities and higher expectations, according to the BFA.

In a specific note, Zhang said at the press conference that the BFA Annual Conference is committed to playing an active role in reducing the trust deficit among the international community.

The secretary general also expressed his concern for the spillover effects from unilateralist and protectionist policies and initiatives from certain countries.

"We have always believed that economic globalization remains a big trend," Zhang said, noting that the BFA stays committed to multilateralism, open world economy, win-win cooperation and common development, toward a better and shared future in the changing world.

Global Times