BOAO, China, March 29 (Xinhua) – The rise of China’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology has opened new opportunities for other countries and fostered progress across borders, the chairman of a Malaysian think tank said.
Malaysian Center for Strategic and International Studies Chairman Mohd Faiz Abdullah said on the sidelines of the Boao Asia Forum Annual Conference 2026 that “the whole idea of progress in AI is for humanity to move to the next level of progress rather than leaving others behind.”
The global epicenter of AI development is shifting from Europe and the United States to Asia, according to the Annual Report on Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress 2026, which was released at the forum. Asian economies are rapidly evolving from AI followers to frontrunners, leveraging their vast digital populations, diverse application ecosystems, and coherent policy frameworks.
Mr. Faiz said Asia has played a central role in world affairs. With its rapidly growing technological capabilities, Asia will likely continue to expand its influence as a keystone of global economic growth.
“There are even bigger challenges ahead, and Asia’s role will continue to expand,” he said, noting that the region boasts significant growth momentum supported by frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which promotes organic growth through real economic value addition rather than speculative financial operations.
He added that the biggest challenge for Asian economies lies in breaking away from protectionist tendencies, which requires improving regional and global governance to build mutual trust and fully exploit the synergies of multilateral mechanisms in the region.
On narrowing the gap between the Global North and the Global South, he said Asia should strengthen its voice in global governance through endogenous growth, uphold true multilateralism, and promote a more just international order.
He also called for abandoning zero-sum thinking, stressing that major economies can achieve common success without becoming hostile.
He noted that China and Malaysia have commonalities in promoting international fairness and the common good of humanity, and expressed strong confidence in Asia’s future, calling the region the world’s most stable growth engine. ■
