Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the green energy transformation have emerged as key topics of discussion at the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) 2025 Annual Conference which opened in the town of Boao in south China's island province of Hainan on Tuesday.
Themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," the four-day conference has drawn nearly 2,000 attendees from more than 60 countries and regions to participate in more than 50 events and sub-forums as well as a series of bilateral meetings.
The second day of the forum on Wednesday was packed with a busy schedule which featured more than 20 sessions focusing on critical global issues.
At one sub-forum, industry experts and leading company representatives shared their insights on how to find the right balance between fostering innovation and establishing effective governance frameworks, while another session saw discussions center around building a secure, systematic, efficient, and intelligent new energy system.
Song Hailiang, chairman of the China Energy Engineering Corporation, highlighted the global significance of the ongoing green energy transformation, and said progress is being felt across multiple sectors.
"Building a new energy power system is of great significance and addresses common global challenges. China has made tremendous explorations and practical advancements at the national, industrial, and even household levels in recent years, offering valuable experiences for global promotion and adoption," he said.
Song also called for industries to fully embrace the advantages of the AI era, to understand the the energy transition from the perspective of data-driven approaches, technological convergence and aspiring for more agile ecosystems, so as to push forward the comprehensive integration of AI and big data that encompasses all aspects of the energy sector.
Meanwhile, the move to more energy efficient vehicles is seen as a crucial step towards reducing carbon emissions and meeting green and sustainable goals.
Enrico Giovannini, former Italian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, hailed China's advancements in electric vehicle manufacturing and hopes Europe can learn from it.
"China has developed its electric car manufacturing sector and I think that we need to do the same in Europe, in Italy. We have a lot of premature deaths, almost 300,000 every year, which is a huge social cost. And we need to change, but also in terms of safety, not only in terms of reducing pollution," said Giovannini.
Often referred to as the "Asian Davos," the Boao Forum brings together political and business leaders to discuss trade, investment and technology, with growing participation from Global South countries in recent years.
AI, green energy transformation among hot topics at Boao Forum
