International political figures and analysts have highlighted how south China's island province of Hainan has become a key hub at the forefront of China's opening-up endeavors, with the recent expansion of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) and the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) offering up new opportunities to deepen global cooperation.

The tropical island of Hainan is in the spotlight this week as it plays host to the BFA Annual Conference 2026 in the coastal town of Boao, a high-level dialogue platform that this year marks its 25th anniversary and has gathered over 2,000 participants from 60 countries and regions worldwide.

The four-day forum, which opened on Tuesday, comes after China launched island-wide special customs operations across Hainan last December, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures in the Hainan FTP, which has now become the world's largest FTP by area.

Seen as another landmark initiative in China's high-level opening-up, the Hainan FTP has registered robust growth since the new measures took effect, drawing extensive attention from the international community.

While highlighting the BFA forum's role as a regional growth driver, former politicians also emphasized the broader global significance of the BFA and the Hainan FTP as an example of China's unwavering commitment to opening up.

"The BFA has made substantive contributions to advancing Asian cooperation and regional integration. Following the launch of its special customs operations, the Hainan Free Trade Port has achieved rapid development. The Boao Forum for Asia will further boost Hainan's role as a key node for regional connectivity," said Phinij Jarusombat, the former deputy prime minister of Thailand.

"The Boao Forum for Asia carries important symbolic significance. Through advancing the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port and high-level opening-up, China's economy has demonstrated even stronger competitiveness. With a more open and friendly stance, China is actively exploring new models of international cooperation," said Janusz Piechocinski, the former deputy prime minister of Poland.

Amid the current economic uncertainty, the rapid development of the Hainan FTP also offers a potentially important avenue for foreign investment, with German turbine manufacturer Siemens Energy and French pharmaceutical company Mayoly among those to have established their presence on the island.

"Hainan is maintaining an extremely strong development momentum, and we often hear about a large number of investment projects taking place there. With its superior geographical location, Hainan also holds great appeal for the world's top business figures," said Alexander Dergay, an editor at German newspaper Berliner Zeitung.

For emerging market economies, the BFA has also emerged as a vital bridge through which to facilitate business exchanges, unlock investment opportunities, and deepen trade ties with China.

"The Boao forum and other forums are great opportunities for businesses to meet, for businesses to interact. And hopefully from these forums there'll be [more] business that comes [as a result]. So we really appreciate the Boao forum that makes it easy for us to engage directly. We've got the resources, we've got the young population, young people are prepared to learn. And we've got entrepreneurs who are willing and we hope that some of them will take the opportunity to go to China and also trade with the Chinese," said Thulani Kunene, deputy Chairperson of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature of South Africa.

This year's BFA, themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation", features four core topics and more than 50 sub-forums, roundtables and dialogue sessions.

Founded in 2001, the BFA has grown into a key platform for addressing Asian issues and strengthening cooperation both within the region and globally.