Boao Forum provides platform for fostering economic cooperation: Indian journalist

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) has provided a platform for fostering economic cooperation and regional development, said a senior Indian journalist.

The BFA Annual Conference 2025 is set to start on Tuesday in Boao Town, Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province, with nearly 2,000 representatives from over 60 countries and regions to attend the event.

With the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," this year's event will focus on four key topics: rebuilding trust to promote cooperation, the rebalance of globalization and inclusive development, sustainable development, and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation.

Ahead of this year's event, China Global Television Network (CGTN) spoke with Mewati Sitaram, Editor-in-Chief of the Mumbai Messenger newspaper. He emphasized the significant roles China and India are expected to play at the upcoming forum.

The BFA has consistently provided a platform for fostering economic cooperation and regional development. Given the current geopolitical landscape, there will likely be a strong emphasis on balancing economic growth with stability, Sitaram said.

"China and India, as two of the world's largest emerging economies, bring unique perspective. China can offer insight into advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, state investment and digital transformation, while India's experience in digital finance, start-up ecosystem and IT service can provide valuable model for inclusive growth. Both China and India have a shared interest in advocating for the Global South and ensuring that Asia's growth remain equitable and inclusive," he said.

Seeing that the digital divide remains a significant barrier to balanced global development, Sitaram said the issue should be addressed through international collaboration and policy making.

"The Global South must be an active participant in artificial intelligence development, not just a consumer of AI-driven product. To safeguard its interests, three key areas need focus. The first area is technology access. Open source, artificial intelligence models and public private partnership can ensure that developing countries have access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools. Collaborative research initiative similar to those between India and China in pharmaceutical can be extended to AI and machine learning. Number Two: talent development. Under talent development, AI education and skilling programs must be expanded in emerging economies," he said.

"Third, financial support: International financial institutions and regional development banks should create dedicated fund for AI infrastructure in Global South. China and India can jointly advocate for artificial financing initiative within forums like BRICS, G20 and the AI for good initiative under the United Nations. To bridge the digital divide, international cooperation is essential [for] policymakers to push for AI regulation and ensure use, while also fostering innovation. Infrastructure sharing agreements can help extend digital connectivity to remote areas, ensuring that AI benefits are widely distributed and both countries can have a upper hand in technologies and everything," he added.

Boao Forum provides platform for fostering economic cooperation: Indian journalist

Seiya Matsuno, a Japanese scholar, on Tuesday donated a trove of wartime Japanese documents to the Guangdong Provincial Archives in China, marking the first appearance of original Japanese evidence detailing Imperial Japan's systematic forgery of Chinese currency in Hong Kong during its invasion of China.

The donated archives, authenticated by WWII historians at South China Normal University, include correspondence between Japan's War Ministry and the General Staff of its Expeditionary Forces in China.

They conclusively prove that Japanese troops looted the Kuomintang government's banknote printing machines in Hong Kong and mass-produced counterfeit currency as part of a calculated economic warfare strategy. The records specify the counterfeit bills' quantities, production sites, distribution channels and usage protocols.

Matsuno, a researcher at the International Peace Research Institute of Meiji Gakuin University in Japan and a distinguished professor at Heilongjiang International University, said that the fact that the Japanese army manufactured counterfeit banknotes for economic purposes can be verified for the first time with historical data.

"The fact that the Japanese army manufactured counterfeit banknotes for economic purposes has been revealed through the testimony of relevant personnel of the Japanese Army. Through the information disclosed this time, such fact can be verified for the first time with historical documentation, which is very important," Matsuno said.

"This was written by the aggressors themselves, which is tantamount to a confession of the Japanese invasion. So I think it has very important historical value for further in-depth disclosure of Japan's war crimes against China," said Xiao Zili, a history professor at South China Normal University.

Also on Tuesday, Matsuno, known for previously donating evidence related to Japan's Unit 731 and chemical warfare in China, also contributed a photo album from the Imperial Army's 104th Division, which participated in the invasion of Guangdong.

He shared research on Japan's "gas warfare" and "secret war" in southern China, and stressed the importance of learning from history to cherish peace.

The year of 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Scholar unveils documents verifying Japan's counterfeit-note warfare crimes in China

Scholar unveils document of Japan's counterfeit-note warfare crimes in China