Shanghai recently played host to the Second Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM2) of APEC China 2026, marking a critical step in the region's collaborative journey toward shared prosperity. Held from Monday to Tuesday, the gathering brought together key representatives to refine the strategic direction for the year's APEC initiatives.
Central to the discussions was the theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together." During the opening ceremony, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu highlighted that China intends to leverage the APEC leaders' Shenzhen Declaration as a primary platform. This approach aims to create a clear roadmap for achieving the ambitious goals of an integrated and prosperous Asia-Pacific community.
As the region prepares for the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled for November 2026 in Shenzhen, south China, the focus will be anchored on four essential pillars: trade, connectivity, innovation, and development. These pillars are designed to ensure that the outcomes of the leaders' meeting provide tangible benefits for all member economies.
The SOM2 was preceded by a flurry of diplomatic and technical activity. Between May 11 and 17, nearly 40 specialized meetings took place, covering a broad spectrum of critical issues including food security, telecommunications, women's empowerment, and economic and technological cooperation. These preparatory sessions saw the participation of over 1,000 delegates, including representatives from APEC member economies, the APEC Secretariat, and official observers.
Participants expressed strong appreciation for China's role as host and commended the significant progress made in APEC cooperation since the start of the year. There is a shared sense of readiness among members to promote "China Year," ensuring that the collaboration leads to fruitful and sustainable results for the entire region.
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Second Senior Officials' Meeting of APEC China 2026 held in Shanghai
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