Guangzhou emerged as the hub of Asia-Pacific diplomacy as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi inaugurated the first Senior Officials’ Meeting for 2026 APEC on Tuesday. This event signals China’s return as host after over a decade, reinforcing its influence in global trade forums.
In his keynote, Wang Yi invoked President Xi Jinping’s call to preserve APEC’s essence: driving economic vitality and public well-being. He advocated open pathways to mutual prosperity, inclusive globalization, and a cohesive Asia-Pacific community – prosperous, stable, open, inclusive, and balanced.
The chosen theme, ‘Building an Asia-Pacific Community and Promoting Shared Prosperity,’ guides proceedings. Emphasizing openness, innovation, and cooperation, efforts will confirm core principles, prioritize long-term growth, and culminate in a leaders’ statement rich in direction and substance.
Wang outlined expanding free trade architecture, innovation-led shifts to digital efficiency and green practices, respect for diverse member needs, development-focused governance, and enhanced sectoral partnerships.
Perfectly timed with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, APEC’s ‘China Year’ will showcase modernization milestones, opening new doors for regional and global progress.
The February 1-10 sessions in Guangzhou featured thorough exchanges on priorities, initiated wide-ranging cooperations, and aggregated results for November’s leaders’ gathering.