Regional leaders in sustainable economics took the stage at the Boao Forum for Asia Summit. Dhanin Chearavanont, Senior Chairman of the Charoen Pokphand Group, shared his vision to support agricultural reform through AI, clean energy, and human development, aiming to foster collaboration to sustainably elevate Asia's regional economy.

On August 26, 2024, at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, China and 26 partner countries held the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Bangkok Roundtable in Thailand, marking the first time this conference was hosted outside the People’s Republic of China. The event was organized under the theme “Future of the World: from the Perspective of Asia” to serve as a platform for exchanging views on strengthening cooperation and joint development among countries in the Asian region.

The significant conference was inaugurated by H.E. Han Zhiqiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand, who delivered a congratulatory message from H.E. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. The event also featured remarks from Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of BFA and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Zhang Jun, Secretary-General of BFA, Mr. Don Pramudwinai, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, along with senior leaders from the public and private sectors, and academics who play key roles in driving the economy from various countries across Asia, including Thailand. They gathered to exchange views on finding solutions and opportunities for economic and social development in the face of global challenges.

Prominent figures from Thailand who were invited to participate in this important discussion included Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Member of the BFA Advisory Council, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; Mr. Dhanin Chearavanont, Senior Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group; Mr. Chartsiri Sophonpanich, President of Bangkok Bank; Mr. Sanan Angubolkul, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Arm Tungnirun, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law and Director of the China Studies Center at Chulalongkorn University, among others.

Internationally, notable participants in the BFA in Thailand included Mr. Volkan Bozkir, former President of the 75th United Nations General Assembly; Mr. Marty Natalegawa, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia; Mr. Ong Tee Keat, former Deputy Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives; and Mr. Bolat Nurgaliyev, Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Policy Research Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, among others.

This conference was honored by the presence of H.E. Han Zhiqiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand, who opened the event by reading a congratulatory message from H.E. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. Additionally, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered the closing summary of the conference.

On this occasion, Senior Chairman Dhanin Chearavanont of Charoen Pokphand Group was invited to share his views on the topic 'Sustainable Development: Towards Shared Prosperity in Asia.' Senior Chairman Dhanin emphasized the importance of utilizing advanced technology in agriculture and developing clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear power to promote sustainable development. He also highlighted the need for cooperation among Asian countries to exchange resources and technology, which would lead to shared prosperity in the region.

Mr. Dhanin believes that the key to achieving sustainable development in Asia lies in focusing on 'people development.' Regardless of how advanced technology becomes, it still requires people to drive progress. With over 4 billion people, Asia represents a vast and potential market for further development. There should be policies in place to promote and support the development of entrepreneurs and talented individuals, as well as to attract skilled people from around the world to invest and do business in the region. Despite the numerous challenges facing the world today, he remains confident that opportunities always exist in times of crisis. The crucial task is to foster collaboration across all sectors.

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is an international conference led by the People’s Republic of China in cooperation with 26 countries across Asia and Australia. Its headquarters are located in Boao, Hainan Province, China, and it is supported by the Chinese government. The forum aims to promote economic cooperation and sustainable development among Asian countries and the global community. It serves as a platform for political leaders, business executives, and academics to discuss economic, social, and cultural issues within the context of the global economy.

Often referred to as the 'Davos of the East,' the forum resembles the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland, but with a focus on issues pertinent to Asia and its connection to the global economy. Thailand is one of the founding member countries of the BFA, providing a platform for high-level leaders from government, business, and academia to discuss and share their visions on important issues in Asia and the world. This year, the forum emphasized the goal of enabling Asia to achieve sustainable development and unity in raising the region's economic competitiveness on a global scale.