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Global Times: Calls for closer cooperation resonate at Boao forum amid uncertainties

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BEIJING, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A steady stream of buses, each adorned with the logo of Boao Forum for Asia, flows through the bustling streets, packed with government officials, industry representatives and journalists from around the world. As they converge on the prestigious Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025, which takes place from Tuesday to Friday, in Boao, South China’s Hainan Province, the air is charged with anticipation, signaling the grand opening of this high-level event – an extraordinary gathering where ideas, influence and innovation collide on a significant scale.

This year’s forum holds special significance, particularly amid the rise of global protectionism. On the first day of the Boao Forum for Asia, themed “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future,” government officials, business leaders, and scholars worldwide called for stronger cooperation among Asian nations. They also highlighted China’s crucial role in enhancing regional collaboration, contributing to global stability and creating new opportunities for development in an increasingly uncertain world.

According to preliminary statistics, this year’s annual conference has attracted around 2,000 representatives from over 60 countries and regions, along with more than 1,100 journalists from nearly 150 media outlets across 30 countries and regions. This strong turnout underscores the world’s keen attention on this major regional and international event.

At Tuesday’s session, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and chairman of the BFA, stated that the event, with both the scale and the level of participation, serves as a strong testament to the significance of free trade and globalization.

Ban noted that while global trade is still far from being 100 percent free, it has significantly expanded the global economic pie and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and hardship. He emphasized that the future of the world depends on how open and inclusive economies can be, which underscores the undeniable importance and benefits of free trade.

Speaking on the sideline of the BFA, Zhou Xiaochuan, vice chairman of the BFA and former Governor of the People’s Bank of China, said that at the start of the new year, the global situation rapidly shifted. Political, security, economic, and technological factors are intertwining and interacting, presenting new challenges to the international order.

With increasing instability and uncertainty, 2025 will be a year for all parties to face challenges together and seek transformation, Zhou noted.

Voice of Asia 

In the current complex international landscape, the critical role of Asia was particularly highlighted at this event.

Zhou said that in light of the immense changes in the world, proactively shaping Asia’s future has become a major and urgent task for Asian countries. 

He further noted that Asian nations must actively promote regional economic integration and shape an inclusive, equitable form of economic globalization. Asian countries need to unite in opposing unilateralism and trade protectionism, and uphold true multilateralism, the vice chairman said.

Zhou suggested that efforts should be focused on advancing the implementation and expansion of free trade agreements such as the RCEP and the CPTPP, while pushing to reshape the multilateral trading system and its rules, thus injecting endogenous momentum into the rebalancing of globalization.

Zhou concluded by expressing hope that the annual conference would provide a platform for exploring the “Asian solution,” voicing “Asia’s perspective,” and working together to build a shared future for Asia and humanity.

In a speech addressed to the audience at Tuesday’s session, John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that Boao is a beacon for dialogue and cooperation. 

Lee noted that we are currently facing unprecedented challenges, which have left many people at a loss, but within these challenges lie opportunities, as Asia is now the engine of global growth. He noted that it is crucial that we promote multilateralism while firmly rejecting protectionism.

Lord Gerry Grimstone, former UK minister for investment, who also participated in Tuesday’s event, noted he believes that “countries in Asia have an important role to play in ensuring that the spirit of multilateralism continues, because if we enter an era of pure nation-state competition, no one will benefit from it.”

The growing importance of Asia is further underscored by the latest economic data. According to the Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report 2025, released by the Boao Forum for Asia on Tuesday, the Asian economy, one of the world’s major growth engines, is projected to grow by 4.5 percent in 2025, with its share rising to 48.6 percent among the world’s economic output measured by purchasing power parity. 

At the opening press conference on Tuesday, Zhang Jun, secretary general of the BFA, said that Asia is at the forefront of global development in many areas, showcasing a bright future. 

“The world has every reason to be hopeful about Asia’s future, and Asia also has every reason to be confident about the future of the world,” Zhang said.

China the stabilizer 

Amid global complexity, China’s role as a leading economy in Asia and the world is highlighted, serving as a stabilizer of world trade while creating more opportunities for cooperation in the region and beyond.

Pei Sai Fan, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore, shared in an interview with the Global Times and other media outlets that as China’s doors of openness continue to widen, there will be more opportunities for cooperation between China and Singapore.

Pei believes that new energy and the green economy are key areas for China–Singapore collaboration. He noted that China is at the forefront of global development in these fields, while Singapore is actively promoting its green transition. He emphasized the need for both sides to strengthen analysis and explore broader cooperation opportunities. 

When asked to comment on potential cooperation between China and Singapore in the field of artificial intelligence, Pei responded that AI development has reached a stage where it is essential to accelerate the exploration of diversified application scenarios.

China expects to achieve a GDP growth of around 5 percent this year, which is a strong result, especially considering China’s economy is more than $18 trillion, reflecting a high degree of confidence to the world, Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, and a director of the New Multipolar World Institute, told the Global Times on Tuesday, extending good expectations for the Chinese market and its economy.

Helwig Schmidt-Glintzer, a professor at the University of Göttingen in Germany, also shared his positive expectations for China with the Global Times on Tuesday, citing the nation’s continuous efforts to pursue high-quality development. He said, “China is already one of the leading research countries in scientific fields, offering opportunities for others to cooperate with and learn from China.'”

Anne-Laure Kiechel, CEO of Global Sovereign Advisory, a Paris and Abu Dhabi-based firm, told the Global Times on Tuesday that this is her first time at the forum, and she is already amazed by the very positive energy she has witnessed. She was particularly impressed by the fact that industry innovation and investment are always at the forefront in China.

“Our company has done a lot of business related to areas such as trade and investment, including in free trade zones like the one in Hainan, which has been very successful and holds much more potential for the future.”

In light of global instability, the Boao Forum has proven to be a consistent and more inclusive platform compared to other forums, Yasiru Ranaraja, founding director of the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

While the future remains uncertain, Ranaraja said that Asia, with China playing an important role, is becoming more prosperous and resilient in the face of these challenges.

“Now is the time for the region to further consolidate trust, strengthen market ties, and inject more stability into the global economic future,” Ranaraja said.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330855.shtml

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Axon Announces Body 5: Next-Generation Camera Built for the AI Era

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39 minutes ago

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October 24, 2026

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Axon Body 5 delivers 25x the AI processing power of earlier-generation cameras, with upgraded connectivity, audio and battery life to support real-time situational awareness in the field

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Axon (Nasdaq: AXON), the global leader in public safety technology, today announced Axon Body 5, its newest body-worn camera designed to bring more powerful intelligence, connectivity and real-time support directly to officers in the field.

For years, Axon body cameras have helped agencies capture critical evidence and create greater transparency. Body 5 is built to help officers during the call, with information, assistance and backup on the spot.

“Officers shouldn’t have to choose between getting information and watching the scene. With Axon Body 5, they don’t,” said Rick Smith, Axon Founder and CEO. “They capture a license or document with the camera, keep their hands free and eyes up, and get information faster than writing it down and calling it in by radio. An officer fully engaged with the person in front of them, not down at a notepad, is a safer officer and a better-served community.”

Axon Body 5: Built for the AI Era

Built from the ground up for the AI era, Axon Body 5 delivers 25x the AI processing power than earlier generation Axon body cameras, alongside advancements in connectivity, audio, video and battery life. Together, these upgrades give the camera the physical power to run smarter AI features — both today and as new AI tools are developed in the future — while also making it more dependable for officers to use every day. 

For the first time, Axon is also introducing two versions of its latest flagship camera: Axon Body 5 and Axon Body 5 Pro.

Both models feature several key advancements, including:

25x more processing power for AI: A powerful new computing architecture creates the capacity to support current and future AI features directly on the body camera.Enhanced video: Improved video captures clearer evidence across challenging environments, including better low-light performance.Improved connectivity: Seamless connectivity in urban and remote environments – and more precise location capability – helps officers, cameras and remote support teams stay connected when timely information matters most.Longer battery life: 20% more battery life than the previous generation helps keep the camera ready and connected throughout an officer’s shift.

The Axon Body 5 Pro will continue to gain new AI capabilities as they become available, growing along with the AI Era Plan. Additionally, new hardware features include:

A near-focus camera: An additional dedicated camera lens lets officers scan driver’s licenses to check status and search for wants or warrants in seconds, without returning to the patrol vehicle, with relevant information sent to Axon Fusus to support real-time operations.Front-facing speakers: Four additional speakers project even more powerful audio toward the person an officer is speaking with, helping real-time translations from Axon Assistant carry more clearly over heavy traffic or crowd noise. Additional memory: Extra space lets the camera run several AI tools at once, helping officers stay better informed and work faster.

Bringing More of Axon’s AI Era Into the Field

Axon Body 5 helps officers get more out of the Axon AI Era Plan by bringing smart tools right to the scene. Axon’s portfolio already supports public safety professionals across a growing range of tasks. For example, Draft One helps officers turn body-camera audio into high-quality report drafts and Axon Assistant provides voice-based information access and real-time translation.

Increasingly, Axon is also bringing AI into real-time operations.

Axon Guardian is a new category of AI features within the AI Era Plan that was specifically created to work with an officer’s field-based devices – starting with body cameras and in-car cameras – to improve safety. Guardian is designed to flag potential risks as situations unfold and create alerts when additional attention may be needed. Two of the first features include:

Escalation Detection: When an Axon Body 4 or Axon Body 5 camera is activated and recording, Guardian has the ability to detect potential conflicts in real time and create an alert in Axon Fusus. A human reviews the livestream and decides if additional support or action is needed.Approach Alert: When active on Axon Fleet 3, Guardian can detect if the door of a stopped vehicle opens and alert the officer through the in-car display and their body-worn camera.

Combined, Axon Body 5 and the expanding AI Era portfolio demonstrate the importance of AI as a critical resource to assist public safety professionals before, during and after an incident — reducing administrative burden, improving situational awareness and helping protect more lives.

Innovating Responsibly

Axon’s Responsible Innovation framework guides the development of all of its products. Designed with this in mind, Axon Body 5 and Guardian prioritize human oversight and maintain agency control over data. As a key part of the responsible innovation process, Axon’s independent Ethics and Equity Advisory Council was created to help responsibly develop and deploy new technologies with transparency, while aligning with community expectations.

General availability dates for Axon Body 5 and Axon Guardian will be announced soon. Product features and capabilities vary by configuration. For more information on Axon’s current products and services: Axon Product Catalog – Axon.com.

About Axon
Axon (Nasdaq: AXON) is the global leader in public safety technology supporting state, local, federal and international public safety agencies with technology designed to Protect Life. Complementing its mission, Axon’s growing Enterprise market focuses on protecting critical infrastructure and frontline workers across multiple industries including corporate security, hospitality, retail and healthcare. Founder-led since 1993, Axon builds products with transparency and responsibility. From TASER energy devices to today’s connected network of hardware – including cameras, drones, and robotics – cloud software, sensors, and AI-tools, the Axon ecosystem helps seamlessly protect people and places when it matters most. To ensure these technologies align with community expectations, Axon’s independent Ethics & Equity Advisory Council guides the ethical, inclusive, and accountable design of its products and services. Learn more about the EEAC and Axon’s Responsible Innovation framework at Axon Responsibility. 

Non-Axon trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Axon, TASER and the Delta Logo are trademarks of Axon Enterprise, Inc., some of which are registered in the US and other countries. For more information, visit www.axon.com/legal. All rights reserved.

Please visit https://investor.axon.com and https://www.axon.com/newsroom for more information.

Media Contact:
Kate MacKinnon
Vice President, Communications
press@axon.com

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In HelloNation, Custom Fabrication Expert Mark Coyle Explains a Common Mistake in Custom Aluminum Design

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2 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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The article explains why smart geometry, not thicker walls, creates stronger, more efficient aluminum components.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What early design choice causes many custom aluminum projects to become heavier, costlier, or harder to manufacture? That question is addressed in a HelloNation article featuring insights from Custom Fabrication Expert Mark Coyle of American Custom Metals, Inc. in Rochester, New York, that outlines how misunderstanding aluminum behavior leads designers to rely on thick walls instead of stronger geometry.

The article begins by explaining that many people assume thicker walls automatically make aluminum parts stronger. It notes that aluminum does not respond to wall thickness the way steel does. Instead, its performance is shaped by how the metal flows through the extrusion die. The article states that custom aluminum design is more effective when profiles use ribs, chambers, and flanges to create stiffness without adding unnecessary weight. This guidance helps readers understand why adding material often increases cost without improving strength.

The article also highlights that thicker walls change how aluminum moves during extrusion. When heavy areas fill more slowly, the metal cools unevenly and can develop stress that only appears later. The HelloNation piece explains that well-balanced geometry keeps extrusion smooth and predictable. This consistency makes it easier to maintain dimensional accuracy across long production runs. By focusing on geometry, custom aluminum design avoids the problems that come with slow extrusion speeds and uneven cooling.

Another insight in the article centers on how ribs and internal supports influence stability. It describes how a thin wall supported by a properly placed rib often performs better than a thick wall with no reinforcement. This happens because the rib helps distribute load, improve stiffness, and guide the aluminum as it cools. The article explains that this structural approach makes custom aluminum design more efficient and gives designers more control over how the final part behaves under pressure.

The article also shows why early collaboration between designer and fabricator prevents costly changes. It states that a fabricator familiar with extrusion can catch potential issues before a die is built. Small adjustments to corners or transitions can remove weak points or improve metal flow. The article notes that this teamwork keeps the design aligned with real-world production. By working together early, both sides reduce the risk of redesigning the die after the first test run.

Machining is another area where the article explains how wall thickness affects performance. Features such as deep pockets or sharp internal angles may require slow feed rates or special tooling. When walls are thicker than needed, those areas can become difficult to machine cleanly. The article states that thoughtful custom aluminum design makes machining more predictable. Small changes, such as adding radiused edges or sizing features to match standard tools, help shorten cycle times and prevent tool wear.

Thermal behavior receives detailed attention as well. The article explains that aluminum retains heat differently depending on the mass of each section. Thicker walls hold heat longer, which increases the chance of distortion during extrusion, machining, or finishing. When a design uses geometry to create strength, the material cools more evenly. This reduces warping and helps long profiles stay aligned. The article notes that stable cooling is important for components that require a precise fit and consistent shape throughout an entire production run.

Cost is also a key topic in the article. It states that heavier profiles increase material use, extrusion time, and tooling needs. A custom aluminum design that relies on geometry instead of mass lowers material consumption and keeps the fabrication process efficient. The article explains that lighter parts are easier to handle, ship, and assemble. This saves money across multiple stages of production and supports long-term manufacturing efficiency.

The article also notes that smart custom aluminum design creates profiles that behave predictably during extrusion and machining. Smooth transitions, balanced wall dimensions, and structural features help reduce the chance of distortion or dimensional drift. These elements also lower scrap rates and support reliable performance. By using geometry instead of excess material, designers build parts that maintain strength without compromising manufacturability.

As the article concludes, it emphasizes that avoiding thick walls is one of the best ways to improve performance and lower cost. It states that the most dependable custom aluminum components come from designs that use structural features to strengthen the profile. When designers understand how aluminum behaves at each stage of extrusion and machining, they create parts that are strong, efficient, and consistent from batch to batch. This approach turns custom aluminum design into a predictable process rather than a series of uncertain adjustments.

A Common Mistake in Custom Aluminum Design features insights from Mark Coyle, Custom Fabrication Expert of Rochester, NY, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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World Young Scientist Summit 2026 Opens in Wenzhou, Zhejiang

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3 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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WENZHOU, China, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a report by China Daily:

On October 24, the World Young Scientist Summit 2026 opened in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. The event is hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government, and the World Association of Young Scientists. Nearly 800 representatives, including scientists, educators, and entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries and regions, are attending the summit.

He Junke, Vice President of CAST in charge of daily work and First Secretary of its Secretariat; Lian Yimin, Chairman and Party Group Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Marcelo Knobel, Executive Director of The World Academy of Sciences; and Zhang Zhenfeng, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Wenzhou Municipal Committee, attended the summit and delivered remarks. Yao Gaoyuan, Vice Governor of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government, presided over the first segment of the plenary session.

With the theme “Gathering Talents Worldwide to Create a Better Future,” the summit’s annual agenda is “Global Youth Action in the AI Era: Building a Sustainable Future.” It aims to draw on the insights of young people around the world, deepen international sci-tech cooperation, and jointly address questions about young people, science, the world and the future.

Efim Zelmanov, Fields Medalist and Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chen Yunji, Deputy Director of the Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, and Director of the National Key Laboratory of Processor Chips; Mary Garson, President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; and Lu Chaoyang, Member of the Standing Committee of CAST, Executive Dean of the Shanghai Institute of Advanced Study, University of Science and Technology of China, and Chairman of the Council of the World Association of Young Scientists, delivered keynote speeches respectively on education reform in the AI era, AI and processor chips, young women scientists’ participation in science, and quantum computing. They explored new opportunities for scientific research, talent cultivation, and international cooperation in the AI era.

This year’s summit placed greater emphasis on the growth needs of young scientists, with young talents under the age of 45 accounting for 88 percent of participants. It aimed to build a cluster of international journals, bring together young scientific talent, facilitate a batch of international collaborative projects and advance the application and commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. The summit released the Report on the Distribution and Mobility of Young Scientists in the Field of Embodied Intelligence, launched the World Young Scientist Summit Partner Journal Program and the 2026 World Young Scientist Innovation and Entrepreneurship Growth Support Program. It also published the “Young Scientist Pioneers 2035” list and announced the 2026 Sustainable Development Young Scientist Award. The awards were presented to four Chinese and foreign scientists.

Chen Tianrun, Founder of Hangzhou Moxin Technology Co., Ltd.; Yuan Yang, Assistant to the Dean of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University; and two of the 2026 Sustainable Development Young Scientist Award winners, César de la Fuente and Nicola Segata, among other Chinese and foreign young scientist representatives, spoke at the flash-talk session to share their research practices and reflections.

In addition, the conference focused on fields such as future manufacturing, quantum information, embodied intelligence, brain-computer intelligence, environmental science, deep-sea resources, and life and health, and held 12 parallel forums. It also included the “Gravitation π” Future Technology and Concept Products Exhibition and Exchange, local thematic side events, and sci-tech and humanities study visits, further building an interdisciplinary, cross-regional and cross-sector platform for youth sci-tech exchange and cooperation.

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SOURCE China Daily

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