(Source: CGTN)

Launched in 2001, the Boao Forum has brought together leaders of governments, businesses and academia from across Asia to talk about pressing regional issues. How has this dialogue platform evolved over the last 16 years?

From Day One, the Boao Forum has had the endorsement of China's top leadership. Each Chinese president shared his views on how the Asian community fits into the world, and, how China will play its part.

"We must see the whole picture, follow the trend of our times and jointly build a regional order that is more favorable to both Asia and the world. We should, through efforts towards such a community for Asia, promote a community of common interest for all mankind," Chinese president Xi Jinping said.

Initiated by 26 Asian countries, the BFA attracted Israel and New Zealand to join in 2006 and the Republic of Maldives in 2016. Originally promoting Asia's economic integration, the dialogue platform has increasingly talked about global issues, as the world economy becomes more of a whole.

"So the Boao Forum gradually moved from an Asian-focused forum to a world-focused forum. That means the Boao Forum has widened its perspective and also taken into consideration that Asian economic development can hardly be isolated from the world," Long Yongtu, former secretary-general of Boao Forum For Asia, said.

From regional integration to internationalization, the history of the Boao Forum can perhaps reflect that of the Asian economy. As the idea of globalization becomes more contested than ever, this year's Boao Forum will examine Asia's role in this process and its prospect in free trade. The dialogue platform will once again serve as a witness to Asia's future.