Ambassador Chen Xu, Chair of the APEC 2026 Senior Officials’ Meeting, said in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday that the current international situation is marked by intertwined changes and turbulence, and APEC faces both opportunities and challenges.
“Whether we can continue to write the Asia-Pacific economic miracle depends on our decisions and actions,” he said.
More than 40 meetings, workshops, dialogues and committee sessions will take place over nine days, covering issues ranging from telecommunications and the automotive industry to food safety, supply chain connectivity, trade facilitation and women’s economic empowerment.
These discussions will focus on strengthening regional cooperation, advancing practical policy solutions and sharing experiences on how economies can harness new technologies to support resilience, connectivity and economic opportunity.
“Guided by the theme of this year, we will work together to turn the goal of building an Asia-Pacific community into action,” Ambassador Chen added.
Building on discussions held earlier this year in Guangzhou, key APEC groups will convene in Shanghai, home to the world’s busiest container port and one of the region’s most important centers for trade, finance and industrial innovation.
APEC meetings will cover key regional issues including the future of the automotive industry, digital transformation, food safety, supply chain connectivity and women’s economic empowerment.
Discussions will focus on emerging technologies, resilient trade and logistics systems, AI and digital trust, as well as policies to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in the economy.
As economies adapt to changing global and regional conditions, there is growing recognition of the importance of cooperation that is practical, forward-looking and focused on shared economic priorities,” said Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.
“The value of these meetings lies not only in the discussions themselves, but in the ability of economies to identify practical lessons, build momentum across sectors and continue advancing work in areas that directly affect businesses, workers and communities across the region," Pedrosa concluded.
The meeting cluster will culminate with the Second APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on 18 and 19 May, helping lay the groundwork for the upcoming APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in nearby Suzhou on 22 and 23 May, where ministers are expected to continue discussions on regional trade and economic cooperation.
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Reporter: Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Arie Novarina
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