On the 24th, the Boao Forum for Asia released two reports indicating that despite growing global uncertainties, the Asian economy continues to demonstrate strong resilience, with GDP growth in 2026 expected to reach 4.5% and the region's share of global GDP steadily rising. The development focus of artificial intelligence (AI) is shifting from Europe and the United States to Asia, an initial blueprint for regional intelligent integration has emerged, and Asia is ushering in five major historical opportunities such as digital and green transformation.
The Boao Forum for Asia is being held from the 24th to the 27th. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, will attend the opening ceremony on the 26th and deliver a speech.
According to the report, Asia’s economic growth rate in 2026 is projected to be 4.5%, slightly lower than 4.7% in 2025, but still far above the global average. Asia’s share of world GDP continues to rise, increasing from 49.2% in 2025 to 49.7% in 2026 based on purchasing power parity, continuing to serve as the main driver of global economic growth. By region, South Asia leads with a growth rate of 6.3%; Central Asia grows at 5.3%; East Asia grows at 4.3%; and West Asia, affected by geopolitical factors, has a growth rate of 2.5%.
The foundation for intra-regional trade integration within Asia remains solid, with intraregional trade dependence rising from 56.3% in 2023 to 57.2% in 2024. The positions of China and ASEAN as the region’s 'anchors of stability' have become increasingly prominent, with 23 economies in 2024 regarding China as their largest trading partner. China and ASEAN have remained each other's largest trading partners for five consecutive years.
Asia is transforming from a 'participant' in trade in services to a key engine of global growth. The proportion of the service sector in GDP has risen from 50.5% in 1985 to 56.9% in 2023, and Asia’s market share of global trade in services has grown from one-fourth to about one-third.
The report states that, leveraging its massive digital population, rich application scenarios, and systematic policies, Asian economies are moving from AI followers to AI leaders. AI development in Asia presents a 'multi-tiered, differentiated path' structural feature: China has achieved maturity across the entire AI industry chain and large-scale commercial implementation; Japan and South Korea focus on high-end manufacturing and industrial automation; Singapore plays a demonstrative role in governance and as a platform hub; while emerging economies such as India and Indonesia take market potential as a breakthrough point.
The report also notes that Asia is facing five major historical opportunities: digital and green transformation is laying the foundation, with regions such as China, India, and ASEAN developing solar and wind power, and the green economy growing rapidly; connectivity injects strong momentum, with cross-border transportation and energy infrastructure such as the China-Laos Railway advancing 'hard connectivity', while the 'soft connectivity' of rules and standards is extending to areas such as digital trade and cross-border payments. In addition, mechanisms such as the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, RCEP, and CPTPP are jointly promoting Asia-Pacific integration at a higher level.