THE 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November in Shenzhen will give attendees a firsthand look at Chinese modernization, said Wang Yuzhu, a distinguished professor at Shenzhen University and vice president of the Chinese Association of Asia-Pacific Studies. He also urged the city to leverage the summit to boost its global standing and growth.

Forging a new core force in the community era

Wang divided APEC’s evolution into two phases. The first was a free-trade era, guided by the Bogor Goals, which focused on trade and investment liberalization alongside technical cooperation. Following the expiration of those goals in 2020, the Putrajaya Vision ushered in a community era, with the goal of building an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040.

As geopolitical tensions mount, Wang said realizing this vision requires a new unifying force. “In this community era, what can rally 21 member economies to move in lockstep? This is both an academic challenge and a crucial question for the Shenzhen meeting,” he said.

Since joining APEC in 1991, China has shifted from a participant to a regional leader. “In building the Asia-Pacific community, China seeks a leading role, which requires addressing global concerns head-on,” Wang said. He identified two key questions: Is China’s economy sustainable amid major-power rivalry? And what opportunities does it offer APEC members?

“The world is watching,” Wang said. “We must provide a definitive response and instill confidence in APEC. We welcome everyone to see a vibrant Shenzhen — a city defined by innovation, openness, and a promising future.”

A milestone meeting

Wang called Shenzhen the ideal narrator for China’s reform and opening-up achievements. “The story isn’t just about Shenzhen’s growth, but about using this window to show the institutional strengths, sincerity and capabilities behind Chinese modernization.”

“We need to host a milestone meeting in APEC history, where its significance is defined by our actions,” Wang said. He noted that beyond organizational success, the meeting should achieve substantive progress at the conceptual and institutional levels and refine the Putrajaya Vision from a consensus-based text into an actionable framework.

Wang added that China’s hosting serves three strategic tasks: leveraging APEC to foster a stable external environment for China’s growth, stabilizing Asia-Pacific cooperation, and enhancing China’s institutional leadership in global governance. He also noted that with more Chinese nationals working and studying abroad, overseas security has become paramount. “As the world changes, global governance and the way the world is governed both matter to us. Issues that were once irrelevant to us have now become deeply intertwined with our interests.”

Regarding Shenzhen’s hosting of the summit, Wang said that the foremost priority is to ensure smooth, secure, and efficient proceedings. Beyond that, he suggested the city focus on making the event green, technologically innovative, and people-centered. Specifically, he recommended using zero-carbon smart venues to demonstrate sustainability and showcasing Shenzhen’s unique culture of innovation and entrepreneurship through conference services.

Wang concluded that through the summit, Shenzhen should send a clear signal of its commitment to multilateralism, showcase its market opportunities, and build a robust consensus for future cooperation among APEC members.

(Li Jing)