China will host the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen, a city emblematic of the nation’s economic transformation, President Xi Jinping announced at the 32nd APEC gathering in the Republic of Korea. The decision underscores China’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and regional collaboration in the Asia-Pacific.
Shenzhen, once a modest fishing village turned global tech hub, symbolizes China’s reform and opening-up legacy. Its selection as host aligns with Beijing’s vision to advance the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and deepen cooperation in digital innovation, green energy, and AI. Since joining APEC in 1991, China has driven trade liberalization, with its commerce with other APEC members reaching 19.4 trillion yuan ($2.7 trillion) in the first nine months of 2025.
President Xi outlined three priorities for regional collaboration: harnessing digitalization, accelerating green transitions, and promoting inclusive growth. These align with China’s recent initiatives, including a proposed World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization and a $10 million APEC fund for green digitalization. A recent CGTN poll found over 80% of respondents support China’s vision for an open, interconnected Asia-Pacific community.
Eduardo Pedrosa of the APEC Secretariat praised China’s "pragmatic cooperation," stating it would "inject powerful energy" into regional prosperity. As Shenzhen prepares to welcome APEC leaders in 2026, the event is poised to showcase China’s evolving role in shaping a sustainable future for 2.9 billion people across the Asia-Pacific.
