Shenzhen has formally inaugurated the APEC ‘China Year’ as the host nation unveiled an extensive schedule of nearly 300 events spanning multiple Chinese cities throughout 2026. The announcement came during the conclusion of the APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting in Shenzhen, where China revealed its three-pillar cooperation framework focusing on openness, innovation, and collaborative development.
The centerpiece of China’s APEC leadership will be the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for November 18-19, 2026 in Shenzhen, under the theme ‘Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together.’ The program will include the APEC CEO Summit, joint ministerial meetings, and three senior officials’ meetings in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Dalian throughout the year.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun detailed that approximately 10 specialized ministerial meetings will address critical areas including digital economy transformation, trade facilitation, sustainable transportation, tourism development, energy security, financial cooperation, and women’s economic empowerment. These meetings will commence in May 2026 across various host cities.
Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu emphasized China’s commitment to strengthening regional economic integration, describing openness as ‘the lifeline of Asia-Pacific prosperity’ and innovation as ‘the engine of regional development.’ He urged member economies to uphold multilateral trading systems, stabilize regional supply chains, and accelerate digital transformation through technical standardization.
The selection of Shenzhen as primary host city carries symbolic significance, with experts noting its reputation as China’s innovation hub and demonstration of economic opening. Professor Zheng Yongnian of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) highlighted that the city’s strengths in artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and internet technologies align perfectly with regional development needs.
International response appeared positive, with Peru’s senior APEC official Victor Munoz expressing enthusiasm for exploring ‘new avenues of technical cooperation’ through Shenzhen’s innovative ecosystem. The meetings attracted nearly 200 participants from APEC member economies, academic institutions, and business organizations, signaling strong regional engagement with China’s agenda.