THE Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Symposium and Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) began Thursday in Shenzhen, marking the first event hosted by China as the chair of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

Running through Friday, the event launches the APEC “China Year,” as China prepares to host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2026 — its third time leading the forum since joining in 1991. Shenzhen becomes the third Chinese city to host APEC, following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.

The event has brought together senior officials from all 21 APEC members to discuss trade facilitation, sustainable growth, and digital innovation. Discussions will lay the groundwork for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2026, with particular focus on bridging development gaps across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Rebecca Sta Maria, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, said Thursday that the challenges at hand are not unique to any single economy. She said the environment is evolving — partly as a result of APEC’s successful initiatives — which has prompted continuous adjustments in economic structures.

“We are really excited that the Shenzhen experience could also be translated into new forms of cooperation with all APEC economies, in particular with Latin American economies,” Victor Muñoz, a senior official from Peru, told Shenzhen Daily. He added that Peru would especially like to extend technological cooperation with Shenzhen, as the city’s development in AI and finance has opened a new road for his home country to establish cooperation.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Zheng Yongnian — dean of the School of Public Policy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and director of the Qianhai Institute for International Affairs — emphasized Shenzhen’s symbolic role in China’s reform and opening up.

“Shenzhen is a product of openness,” Zheng told reporters Thursday morning. “While some countries are now skeptical of globalization and openness, Shenzhen stands as a model of China’s reform and opening-up story.”

Zheng highlighted the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s industrial strengths in internet technology, artificial intelligence, and biomedicine — sectors with high relevance for APEC economies.

He said hosting the 2026 APEC meetings in Shenzhen will serve as a powerful platform to advance regional economic globalization.

Founded in 1989, APEC is the highest-level and most influential regional economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific. It currently has 21 member economies.

(Song Yingwen)