Boao Forum for Asia to convene 2025 conference on March 25-28

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 will be held from March 25 to 28 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, BFA Secretary General Zhang Jun said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

With the theme "Asia in the changing World: Towards a shared Future," this year's event will focus on development, foster dialogue, explore innovative formats, and value tangible outcomes, all aimed at promoting international development and cooperation, Zhang said. He said the theme is intended to reinvigorate multilateralism, promote openness and development, jointly respond to global challenges, and carry out the commitments of the UN Summit of the Future while focusing on the development of Asia.

Many heads of international and regional organizations, ministerial-level officials, entrepreneurs of Fortune Global 500, and renowned experts and scholars have already confirmed their participation in the annual conference, Zhang said.

He said the event will focus on four subject areas: building trust and promoting cooperation in a fast-changing world; re-balancing globalization for inclusive development; accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals for more effective responses to global challenges; and strengthening AI application and governance for innovation-driven development.

Discussions will also be held on topics related to AI application and governance, as well as the exploration of measures to bridge the digital divide and improve digital connectivity through digital capacity building.

"During the BFA Annual Conference, we will discuss a series of topics, like how to build an open global economy, how to strengthen global governance after the UN Summit of the Future, how to strengthen inter-civilization dialogue and enhance mutual understanding and trust, how to create an environment for peaceful development and maintain common economic security, and how the Global South countries march together toward modernization," said Zhang. Starting this year, the BFA annual meeting will also propose special events to be held in different countries to provide more opportunities for countries to explore cooperation with other participants, according to Zhang.

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) was founded in 2001 and offers a platform for dialogue between leaders from government, business, academia and other organizations to discuss economic, social and environmental issues, promote economic cooperation and support the sustainable development of Asia's economy.

Boao Forum for Asia to convene 2025 conference on March 25-28

Boao Forum for Asia to convene 2025 conference on March 25-28

Three critically-injured victims of Tuesday's deadly earthquake in a remote county of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region have been transferred to a leading hospital in the regional capital Lhasa City, where a team of specialists have been working to deliver the best possible care.

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in the city of Xigaze at 09:05 on Tuesday, causing at least 126 deaths and 188 injuries, while over 3,600 houses have collapsed.

Among the injured, three patients in critical conditions were transferred to the People's Hospital of Xizang. All three are elderly, with two suffering serious spinal injuries, as well as fractures and dislocations of the cervical vertebrae. Upon arrival, a multidisciplinary team of experts convened to assess the patients' conditions and formulate treatment plans.

"This critically-inured patient was transferred from quake-hit area with fractures and dislocation at the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae. We gathered experts from various specialties, including respiratory, neurology, orthopedics, anesthesia, and imaging, as well as specialists from Peking University Health Science Center and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, to conduct an urgent consultation and evaluate the patient's condition to ensure the best possible outcome," said Kelsong Norbu, vice president of the hospital.

Currently, two of the patients have undergone surgery and are stable in the intensive care unit (ICU), while the third is receiving conservative treatment.

To manage the transfer and treatment of critically injured patients, the People's Hospital of Xizang has established emergency teams to assess patients prior to them reaching the hospital through setting up greater logistical support, and has taken steps to strengthen resources by ensuring sufficient emergency beds and activating a green channel to deliver rapid treatment.

Critically-injured quake victims receive specialist emergency care in Lhasa