On 27 March, 2025, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 opened in Boao, Hainan Province of China.Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the opening plenary and delivered a keynote speech themed with “Working Together to Meet Global Challenges and Build a Shared Asian Home”.Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and more than 1,500 representatives from over 60 countries and regions, including officials, business leaders and scholars were present. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was invited to the opening plenary.

During the BFA Annual Conference 2025, Shi Zhongjun was invited as the facilitator at the Roundtable with the topic of “Towards the Future of Regional Integration: Openness & Connectivity”, and participated in the in-depth discussion in the session of “Synergizing Regional Mechanisms”.

Shi Zhongjun stressed that, as the world sailing through uncharted waters full of uncertainties and instabilities with global challengesrising, Asia remains committed to the spirit of true multilateralism and open regionalism. Many regional mechanisms and organizations were founded in Asia, and have been playing a crucial role in promoting regional cooperation and fostering regional integration. Standing at the conjuncture of a new era, regional mechanisms should further collaborate with one another to form synergistic and holistic strengths, upholding the spirit of Openness and Win-win Cooperation, rather than being competitive and exclusive to each other. Through regular dialogues and communications, key information and best practices could be shared to align policies and initiatives for mutual reinforcement and multiplicative impact. Shi Zhongjun called for regional mechanisms to take concrete and concerted actions to contribute to the regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Former Foreign Minister of IndonesiaMarty Natalegawa, Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Secretary General Kairat Sarybay of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, Secretary General Nasser Riden Thamer Al-Motairi of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue andSecretary General Lee Hee-sup of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat joined the discussion. They opinionated that given the profound and complex changes in the global landscape, Asia must remain steadfast in multilateralism, and regional mechanisms should strengthen coordination in the spirit of openness and cooperation. Through sharing of information and best practices, different mechanisms could leverage their respective strengths to collectively address imperative issues such as free trade, digital economy and green development. They shall gear towards further promoting regional integration, and driving innovative, inclusive and sustainable development, for the benefits of the people in the region and the world at large.

On the sideline, Shi Zhongjun held meetings with heads of the ASEAN Youth Organization and the United Nations Office for South-SouthCooperation to explore collaboration within the framework of ASEAN-China Cooperation.