BOAO, April 18. /TASS/. Boao Forum for Asia kicked off on Sunday on the Chinese island of Hainan. The event, which will be held under the motto "Peace in Transformation: Let's Join Efforts for Global Governance and Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative", will discuss the global changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. The organizers expect about 2,000 people to take part in the event.
"Our primary task this year is to provide assistance to the states of Asia and the whole world so that, in conditions of guaranteed epidemic security, they can strengthen consensus and mutual trust for the sake of overall growth and development," said the forum's Secretary General, former Deputy Foreign Minister of China Li Baodong on the eve of event.
According to him, Boao Forum will be "the first major international event in 2021, planned mainly in person." Due to the pandemic, many speakers will join the discussions and deliver speeches via videoconference. As in previous years, Boao will bring together renowned scientists, experts and political scientists, prominent public figures and entrepreneurs, politicians and government officials from all over the world, as well as leaders of major international organizations.
According to the list of guests distributed by the organizers, the forum will be attended by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, Director General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Vladimir Norov, UN Deputy Secretary General Liu Zhenmin. It is also expected that the head of Tesla Elon Musk, the head of Apple corporation Tim Cook, a representative of other international corporations will be joining.
The list of the most interesting issues for discussion includes globalization and the promotion of trade and economic relations in the post-pandemic era, the WTO reform, international efforts to tackle poverty and create new mechanisms in the health sector, the development of network technologies and the digital economy during the period of global transformations, the problem of intellectual property protection, the future of 5G technologies and AI (artificial intelligence). The key event will be the meeting of the forum's board of directors, where the agenda for the next year will be coordinated.
Due to the difficult epidemic situation in the world, Russia will participate in the online forum this year. As in previous years, the Russian President's Special Representative for Cooperation with the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom, Viktor Zubkov, will speak at the forum.
Epidemic control measures and preparation for the forum
Due to the still difficult epidemic situation in the world, the forum will be carried out with increased control measures. The organizers have promised that tough epidemic restrictions will loosen up for journalists who have been vaccinated. However, even those who have been vaccinated are required to provide the organizers with a certificate of passing a coronavirus test, issued no more than 72 hours before receiving an accreditation certificate before the start of the forum.
Moreover, upon arrival on the Island of Hainan, all media representatives must take one more test at the airport of the arrival. All participants are instructed to "maintain a social distance and wear masks at all times." Every day in the morning and in the evening, while in their hotel rooms, journalists should measure their temperature on their own, and "in case of symptoms of flu or fever, immediately notify the hotel's medical center."