File photo: CGTN

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) said on Thursday that its 2020 annual conference, originally scheduled for March 24 to 27, will be canceled due to the spread of COVID-19.

"The raging COVID-19 pandemic across the world is threatening human health and global economy. In response to international efforts to contain the disease and prioritizing the health and safety of all participants, the Forum's Board of Directors made the difficult decision of not holding this year's annual conference," it said in a statement.

The BFA annual conference was originally scheduled from March 24 to 27 in Boao, a coastal town in China's southern island province of Hainan, with a theme of "A world in change: Bond together for a shared future."

The BFA said that it would continue preparation for three major thematic conferences scheduled in latter half of year 2020 and organize a series of online activities to discuss the impact of the pandemic and explore solutions for recovery.

Headquartered in China, the BFA is an international organization jointly initiated by 29 member states. It holds an annual conference in Boao in south China's Hainan Province. The founding purpose of the BFA was to promote economic integration in Asia.