Asia remains driver of global growth: Boao Forum

(VOVWORLD) - Asia remains a key growth engine for global economy, despite increasing global economic uncertainty, according to the "Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report" and the "Sustainable Development: Asia and the World Annual Report".

The 2026 reports were released on Tuesday at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), held from Tuesday to Friday in Hainan, China.

According to the reports, Asia's economy will continue to lead globally, with a growth rate of 4.5 percent this year. Asia's share of global GDP is projected to rose from 49.2 percent in 2025 to 49.7 percent in 2026 on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.

The reports noted that Asia is still a global FDI magnet thanks to its resilience, growth potential, with China and ASEAN as the most appealing destinations.

They said global epicenter of artificial intelligence (AI) development is progressively shifting from Europe and the United States toward Asia. "Capitalizing on their substantial digital populations, diverse application ecosystems, and coherent policy frameworks, Asian economies are rapidly evolving from AI followers into frontrunners," the reports said.