Participants pose for a group photo with the logo of the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
BOAO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA)'s annual conference will be held from April 18 to 21 in south China's island province of Hainan.
This year's annual conference will be mainly held offline with the addition of online features as part of ongoing COVID-19 prevention and control efforts, with over 2,600 people expected to participate in person, making it the world's first large-scale international conference to be held this year in predominantly offline forms.
Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, speaks at a press conference of the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Founded in 2001 when Asian countries sought economic integration in the aftermath of the 1998 financial crisis, the forum hosts its 20th edition this year. The annual conference in 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic.
Photo taken on April 18, 2021 shows the press conference of the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference and the launch of annual reports in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
This year's annual conference is themed "A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation."
It will set up dozens of content-rich events, which are divided into six modules, including "Explore China," "Understand the Changing World," "BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) Cooperation," "Embrace the Industrial Changes," "Dance with New Technologies" and "Development for All."
A volunteer (L) in ethnic costume serves a participant at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Hotel in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
Photo taken on April 17, 2021 shows the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)
The BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.
Liang Ziqian, deputy head of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute, speaks at a press conference of the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Cao Li, vice president of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Academy, speaks at a press conference of the 2021 BFA annual conference in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Participants attend the press conference of the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference and the launch of annual reports in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
Photo taken on April 18, 2021 shows the press conference of the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference and the launch of annual reports in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
Participants walk around the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
Participants walk around the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
Participants walk into the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Hotel in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
Participants attend the press conference of the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference and the launch of annual reports in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)■
