ISLAMABAD: Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) Ambassador Sohail Mahmood participated in two high-level events of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in Haikou, China, highlighting the importance of regional economic integration, connectivity, innovation and stronger cooperation in global health.<\/p>\n
At the invitation of BFA Secretary-General Zhang Jun, Sohail Mahmood attended the Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation Roundtable and the 2026 Haikou Conference of the Global Health Forum from September 15 to 17, said a press release issued on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General also had productive bilateral interactions on the sidelines with leading participants from a cross-section aimed at strengthening D-8\u2019s institutional and sectoral partnerships.<\/p>\n
The events brought together nearly 300 participants from more than 30 countries and regions, including senior government representatives, international organizations, business leaders, academics, think-tanks, civil society and media.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a high-level session of the Regional Cooperation Roundtable titled \u201cAccelerating Regional Economic Integration Towards the Vision of FTAAP,\u201d the D-8 Secretary-General highlighted the Asia-Pacific\u2019s central role in global growth, trade and investment.<\/p>\n
He stressed the importance of openness, connectivity and practical cooperation to sustain regional economic dynamism, while calling for stronger policy coordination, resilient supply and value chains, greater synergy among regional trade and economic arrangements and effective use of innovation and digital transformation.<\/p>\n
He also highlighted the D-8\u2019s commitment to expanding trade and economic cooperation and the potential for stronger linkages between its nine member states and partners across Asia.<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General later joined discussions in three other Roundtable sessions, focused on: \u201cAsian Economy in the Context of the Middle East Crisis\u201d; \u201cEnhancing Regional Connectivity & Supply Chain Resilience for Energy and Economic Security\u201d; and \u201cDigital Economy and Global Governance in the AI Era.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the Global Health Forum, he participated as a speaker in a panel discussion on \u201cBuilding a More Multipolar, Efficient and Sustainable Global Health Governance Mechanism.\u201d<\/p>\n
He outlined three priorities for a more equitable and sustainable global health system: stronger institutions and wider ownership, universal health coverage based on equity and innovation, and sustained, result-oriented cooperation.<\/p>\n
He stressed that national health systems, regional cooperation and effective multilateral institutions should reinforce one another, while innovations such as digital health, telemedicine and artificial intelligence should help narrow health inequalities.<\/p>\n
Drawing on the D-8 experience, the Secretary-General highlighted the complementary strengths of Member States in pharmaceuticals and vaccines, biotechnology, medical technologies, digital health, research and public-health systems.<\/p>\n
He emphasized the potential to connect these capabilities through capacity-building, joint research and technology partnerships, as well as co-development and co-production where feasible.<\/p>\n
On the sidelines, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood held a substantive bilateral meeting with Boao Forum for Asia Secretary-General Ambassador Zhang Jun.<\/p>\n
Besides exchanges on the international and regional economic situation, and processes of trade and economic integration, the discussions focused on strengthening D-8\u2013BFA institutional cooperation and exploring practical opportunities in trade and investment, business linkages, connectivity, innovation and sustainable development.<\/p>\n
The two sides highlighted the potential to connect the economic networks and capabilities of the two organizations through mutually beneficial initiatives.<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General also met with H.E. Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Minister of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, for an exchange focused on strengthening practical health cooperation within D-8.<\/p>\n
He briefed the Minister on recent progress, the Secretariat\u2019s efforts to translate agreed priorities into tangible initiatives, and next steps in the D-8 health cooperation agenda, including the D-8 Ministerial meeting on Health in T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n
The Minister welcomed the progress and reaffirmed Bangladesh\u2019s active support for D-8 health initiatives and its readiness to contribute actively to their implementation.<\/p>\n
On September 17, the Secretary General joined a field trip to key innovation and technology facilities in the Hainan Free Trade Port, including Haikou Bio City, Bloomage Biotechnology Industrial Park, Fullsing Town International Digital Port, and Hainan University Science Park.<\/p>\n
The visits to these facilities provided useful insights into China\u2019s experience in biotechnology, digital innovation, and science-industry collaboration.<\/p>\n
Founded in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia, headquartered in China, is dedicated to promoting economic cooperation and common development between Asia and the rest of the world. It was jointly initiated by 29 member states and holds its annual conference in Boao, Hainan Province. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is serving as the current Chairman of the BFA Board of Directors.<\/p>\n
Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood\u2019s participation in the high-level events denotes the first-ever representation of the Developing-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8) in the Boao Forum and illustrates the D-8 Secretariat\u2019s continuing efforts to expand its international outreach and visibility, build mutually-beneficial partnerships, and translate dialogue into practical cooperation.<\/p>\n
Concluding the visit, Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood expressed sincere appreciation to BFA Secretary-General Zhang Jun, the Boao Forum for Asia, and the Provincial leadership and relevant authorities in the Hainan Free Trade Port for their warm hospitality and excellent arrangements.<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General also thanked the Ambassador of Pakistan to China, H.E. Khalil Hashmi, and his team for their valuable support in facilitating the visit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD: Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) Ambassador Sohail Mahmood participated in two high-level events of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in Haikou, China, highlighting the importance of regional economic integration, connectivity, innovation and stronger cooperation in global health. At the […]<\/p>\n
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