The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) said on Monday that its 2020 annual conference, originally scheduled for March 24 to 27, will be delayed in order to cooperate with the measures of governments of countries worldwide in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

In the spirit of being responsible for the health and safety of the participants, the BFA decided to postpone this year's meeting after consulting with the Chinese government, the forum said in a statement on its official website.

The organization will hold the second conference of the BFA Global Health Forum, the first conference of the BFA Global Economic Development and Security Forum and the first conference of the BFA International Scientific and Technological Innovation Forum this year and make contributions to the global fight against the epidemic as well as to world economic and social development, according to the statement. 

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has surpassed 100,000 worldwide.

Headquartered in China, the BFA is an international organization jointly initiated by 29 member states. It holds an annual conference in Boao in south China's Hainan Province. The founding purpose of the BFA was to promote economic integration in Asia.