South China Sea Sub-forum of Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 Held in Boao

From March 26 to 27, 2026, the South China Sea Sub-Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 was successfully held in Boao. It was jointly organized by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, the China Oceanic Development Foundation, the Chinese Global Program Center of China Media Group, and the Secretariat of the Boao Forum for Asia. The sub-forum, themed “The South China Sea Order and Governance Cooperation in a Changing World,” conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges on such topics as “Innovations and Practical Roadmaps for Cooperation Mechanisms under the Current Situation in the SCS,” “Marine Environmental Protection as the Link: Forging a New Pattern of China-ASEAN Governance,” “Rules and Order in the SCS: Reflection and Pathways,” and “High-Quality Development of Marine Economy in the SCS Region and the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port.”

This sub-forum attracted nearly 200 experts and scholars, government officials, diplomats, business representatives, and media representatives from nearly 20 countries and regions, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The sub-forum consisted of two parts—an open session and panel discussions—and lasted for two days. Since its inception in 2014, the South China Sea Sub-Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference has been successfully held for twelve sessions. Guided by the purpose of promoting pragmatic maritime cooperation, enhancing political mutual trust, and contributing to long-term peace and stability in the South China Sea, the sub-forum is intended to build a high-level, institutionalized, consensus-building multilateral platform for academic exchanges among experts and scholars, government officials, businesses, and media from both within and beyond the region who follow the South China Sea, South China Sea issues, and regional maritime cooperation.