Themed "An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity", the Boao Forum for Asia 2018 Annual Conference, a high-level forum for leaders from governments, businesses and academia in Asia and other continents, runs from April 8 to 11 in Boao, Hainan province. Let's take a look at what Chinese business people said at the event.

Jack Ma, founder and chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd

Ma said trade is about mutual respect, and nobody can stop globalization. "Trade is about rules and negotiations. If trade stops, war starts," he said.

It's normal for the world's two biggest economies to have problems with trade, but tackling them with a trade war is just like treating a flu with chemotherapy, Ma said. "You are not solving the problem of the cold, you are destroying the whole body, the whole system."

He said the world is facing a lot of challenges from poverty, environment and technology, noting innovation is the only way to solve these challenges and problems.