Why is openness still relevant? Well, it's because the world is running the risk of being closed again. Actually, it's happening right now. Although trade and technology connect people in many ways, different ideas and values can drive us apart in others. US President Donald Trump created an uproar with his new protectionist policies. Europe has become increasingly worried about the cross-border flow of people and goods. For most of us in Asia, people are calling for faster growth, expanding markets and a fairer distribution of wealth. Openness is not just an aspiration, it is a necessity.

Innovation – this has turned out to be an open battlefield and we have seen the ugly side of it. For instance, some in the US have set their sights on upsetting the Made in China 2025 program. So where innovation happens and who will take the lead will be key topics.

Without a doubt, it all comes down to prosperity. When I stroll down the streets of Boao, it is not hard to find "mom- and-pop" shops as the locals struggle to find ways to make a good living. Indeed, this is a question for all of us, both here in Asia, and around the world. How to generate wealth that can be enjoyed by more if not most? Hopefully Boao 2018 will provide some answers to these questions.

The Boao Forum for Asia was established at the turn of the century to look for solutions to the continent's most pressing issues of the time.

In 1998, the Southeast Asian Financial crisis devastated a number of economies in the region. Asian leaders decided to seek a regional consensus on how to prevent such systemic shocks. Back then, Boao was just a small fishing village and I had to drive my own rented car to get around; nobody quite understood what Boao Forum should look like.

A decade later came a bigger tidal wave, the world financial crisis. Although being innocent of the cause, Asian countries became casualties of the unregulated financial meltdown in the west. But many economies managed to survive and thrive after the crisis.

And fast forward to 2018, Asia has emerged as one of the most vibrant and resilient economies in the world. And Asian leaders are trying to provide not just growth benefits but also ideas on how to generate growth for the world. And Boao has taken on a new mission in the era of reform and opening.

Some people may say, well, Boao is just another talk shop and it won't solve any problems. But to begin solving problems, you have to identify them. The Boao Forum is a starting point as it brings together some of the best visionaries, thinkers and entrepreneurs in Asia. They're here to debate their ideas on growth and prosperity. What they think and what they decide may make a huge difference to people living 10 kilometers or 10,000 kilometers from the venue, whether they sell fruit, make clothes and or drive cabs in Boao or elsewhere. These are my thoughts on Boao Forum.