As the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) prepares for its 25th-anniversary session in southern China's Hainan Province next week, the primary focus is highlighted on a fundamental redesign of the global industrial system changed by artificial intelligence (AI). Under the theme of "Shaping a Shared Future," the forum is set to showcase China's AI Plus initiative – a move to promote the extensive and in-depth integration of AI across various fields to accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces.

With the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) officially adopted by the National People's Congress, Boao serves as the first major international stage for China to translate these high-level domestic blueprints into a global roadmap. The plan's core pillars, which included technological self-reliance and "high-quality development," are expected to be discussed for international scaling as leaders gather in Hainan.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China's core AI industry was valued at more than 1.2 trillion yuan (about $173.9 billion) in 2025, with AI-related industries projected to exceed 10 trillion yuan in value by the end of 2030. 

A critical factor in sustaining this 10-trillion-yuan trajectory is the energy required to power it. In the 2026 government work report, China committed to nurturing "industries of the future," with future energy leading a strategic expansion that includes new-generation information technology, new materials and high-end equipment. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the country will accelerate emerging sectors such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, robotics, biomedicine and aerospace to build a more resilient industrial base.

By brining these discussions to Boao, China seeks to weave a shared future where the digital and green transitions act as a unified engine for regional stability.