The Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia is taking place in Hainan Province, China from 25-28 March 2025, with the theme "Asia in the changing world: Towards a shared future."
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a lead institution in addressing population ageing, supported the organization of the first ever parallel session on ageing at the Forum on 27 March. The session, titled “Strengthening Regional Exchanges and Cooperation to Jointly Address Population Ageing” was organized by the China National Committee on Ageing and the Boao Forum for Asia, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Affairs of Hainan Province and the China Ageing Development Foundation, with the support of UNFPA.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Lu Zhiyuan, Minister of Civil Affairs, Mr. Pio Smith, the UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Mr. Li Feng, Deputy Governor of Hainan Province, spoke at the opening ceremony of the parallel session.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, emphasized the urgency of strengthening regional exchanges to share best practices and policies for active ageing.
Mr. Pio Smith, the UNFPA Regional Director reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to fostering regional collaboration on ageing, and noted that the parallel session at the Boao Forum provided an important platform to share innovative strategies and best practices.
He highlighted that ageing is a reflection of successes in advancing health and development, but that too often older persons are left behind, experiencing unmet care needs and a diminished quality of life. Mr. Smith emphasized that all individuals have a right to live, work and age with dignity, and noted that the diverse initiatives to respond to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing society in Asia offer a wealth of experience for mutual learning and collaboration.
Mr. Lu Zhiyuan, Minister of Civil Affairs, underscored the importance of strengthening regional exchanges and cooperation as key to contributing to “Asian Wisdom” and shaping “Asian Solutions.”
The roundtable discussion also explored how Asia's rapid ageing experience sets it apart from other regions, emphasizing the need for a multi-disciplinary approach in policy development. Panelists agreed that robust international cooperation and integrated national policies are equally vital in addressing ageing challenges, with a special focus on harnessing the potential of the silver economy and technological innovations.
Ms. Nadia Rasheed, the UNFPA Representative in China, Dr. Jia Guoping, UNFPA China Programme Specialist on Population Dynamics, and Ms. Lin Xianxian, UNFPA China Programme Associate were present in the parallel session.
Editor’s Note:
- About the Boao Forum for Asia
Headquartered in China, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is an international organization jointly initiated by 29 member states. BFA holds its annual conference in Boao, Hainan on a regular basis. The founding purpose of BFA was to promote economic integration in Asia. Its mission now is to pool positive energy for the development of Asia and the world.
- About the United Nations Population Fund
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. In Asia and the Pacific Region, UNFPA supports countries in developing ageing situation analysis and research for policy development and advocates for a life-cycle approach to population ageing, by investing in every stage of a woman’s life – from birth to adolescence to adulthood.
