Boao Forum
Zhao Leji vows further opening-up at Boao Forum
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Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, reaffirmed commitments to high-standard opening-up and domestic demand in a keynote speech Thursday at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 plenary. The event in Boao, Hainan province, themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation," drew over 1,600 representatives from more than 60 countries and regions.
Chinese political scientist Zheng Yongnian has warned Southeast Asian nations not to assume US backing or leverage US-China tensions for their own gains, as such a strategy could backfire. Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) face a delicate balancing act between the US and China, its largest trading partner, amid ramped-up naval presence by both Beijing and Washington in the South China Sea.
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Hainan Free Trade Port has attracted 737 new foreign-funded enterprises in the 100 days since launching independent customs operations, up 33.5% year-on-year. The Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce reported 441 new firms and 4.05 billion yuan ($586 million) in utilized foreign investment in the first two months of 2026. Several international companies have established operations there.