Building an Asia-Pacific Community for Shared Prosperity — The 2026 APEC Summit Will Be Held in Shenzhen

Held from 18 to 19 in Shenzhen, this marks China's third time hosting the APEC Leaders' Meeting, following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014. It is also the first time the summit has been held in a core city of the Greater Bay Area. With the theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community for Shared Prosperity," the forum establishes three priority areas for cooperation—openness, innovation, and collaboration—and charts a clear path for regional development across the Asia-Pacific.

The visual identity of this summit embodies deep regional and contemporary significance. Centered on the Kunpeng—a mythical bird derived from Shenzhen's nickname "Pengcheng"—the logo features 21 interwoven wings symbolizing all 21 APEC member economies. The design captures the majestic image of a giant bird spreading its wings, conveying the aspirational vision of "riding the wave of trends to soar together." It signifies that Asia-Pacific economies share a common destiny and are united in building an integrated development landscape.

Since China was announced as the host of APEC for 2026 starting from 2024, preparation meetings have proceeded smoothly throughout the year. The Second APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM2) convened successfully in Shanghai from 5 to 19, 18, with over 1,000 representatives from all member economies and the Secretariat attending. Nearly 40 preparatory working group meetings were held prior to the summit, addressing diverse topics including trade and investment, digital technology, livelihood development, and connectivity. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu emphasized that China will anchor its efforts on the "APEC Leaders' Shenzhen Declaration" as the core outcome, advancing four key pillars—trade, connectivity, innovation, and development—through four practical pathways: exploring an Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area, deepening digital economy cooperation, enhancing regional infrastructure connectivity, and promoting inclusive livelihood development. These initiatives aim to align with the 2040 Vision for a Community of the Pacific, turning the blueprint into reality.

Selecting Shenzhen to host this summit carries dual significance in terms of both timing and location. As a frontier of reform and opening-up and a global hub for science and technology innovation, Shenzhen boasts a complete industrial chain, a thriving digital ecosystem, and an international exchange platform. It is well-positioned to showcase China's achievements in opening up and technological innovation, providing a practical model for innovation cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, Shenzhen has comprehensively advanced preparations in venue operations, diplomatic services, and urban infrastructure, establishing multi-level international platforms to welcome representatives from all sectors of the Asia-Pacific region to discuss future development strategies.

Amidst mounting pressure on global economic recovery and persistent challenges such as unilateral protectionism and supply chain fragmentation, the Asia-Pacific region remains the core engine of global growth, making deeper regional cooperation vital. The upcoming APEC Summit in Shenzhen will establish a platform for equal consultation and mutual benefit, encouraging all members to set aside differences and expand openness. Focusing on key issues like digital transformation, green development, and supply chain collaboration, the summit aims to build consensus and invigorate growth momentum through practical cooperation. Together, we will forge an open, vibrant, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community, injecting enduring strength into global economic stability and development.