Expert Talk at BFA 2026 | Policy advisor to BFA Secretary General on Asia's future as leading force in global growth, cooperation

During an interview at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026, Zafar Uddin Mahmood, Policy Advisor to the Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia, reflected on Chinese President Xi Jinping's question raised at the 2018 BFA—"In this complex and constantly changing world, where are we heading and where is the future of Asia in all of this?"—and said that over the past eight years, developments have provided a clear answer, with Asia emerging as a leading force in global growth and cooperation, supported in part by China's global initiatives.

He emphasized that Asia now contributes over half of global GDP and hosts some of the world's leading innovation hubs, with China at the center alongside other major economies in the region. Mahmood noted that strengthened regional cooperation has enhanced Asia's resilience and positioned it as a key engine of global development.

Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that Asia will continue to lead in science, technology and innovation, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, maintaining strong momentum despite short-term global challenges.