Remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu at the Opening Session of the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting

August 27, 2026

Dear Senior Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon!

Welcome to the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of APEC 2026. This SOM is the largest one both in terms of turnout and number of sessions held in the APEC China Year. Our main task is to review the progress made, work for more deliverables across all sectors, and make sound preparations for the Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the end of the year. Over the past 11 days, we have held meetings and events on trade, transport, food, customs, energy, and health. Thanks to the hard work of you all, we have reached new consensus and achieved new outcomes.

Since the launch of the APEC China Year, we have held three SOMs, the APEC Digital Week, as well as ministerial meetings on women and the economy, trade, tourism, forestry, and food security. Over 300 meetings and events were held in more than 10 cities across China, with close to 7,000 participants. Through in-depth exchanges, we have further built consensus on and initially outlined the main pillars for building an Asia-Pacific community, and injected new momentum into regional economic integration.

After more than eight months of hard work, we have achieved a number of “early harvests.” All members reaffirmed their support to the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) process, and approved the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services. Focusing on digital and smart empowerment of economic growth, we have mapped out a vision for cooperation on digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI). Working to promote women’s economic empowerment, we have made positive progress on boosting women’s digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and employment. In line with the development of smart tourism, we have devised travel facilitation measures for the age of AI. With environmental protection in mind, we have charted the course for forest governance and forest products trade. Centering on regional food security, we have drafted guidelines for a more resilient food system.

Colleagues,

Our world today is fluid and turbulent. Geopolitical conflicts are spilling over and global growth faces multiple challenges. At the same time, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation led by AI is making breakthroughs at a faster pace, and new drivers of growth are gaining momentum. In this context, the Asia-Pacific, as the anchor of global stability and the engine of growth, shoulders even greater responsibilities. China will continue to play its part and work with all parties to deliver fruitful outcomes for the APEC China Year, take regional economic cooperation to a higher level, and make the Asia-Pacific region’s contributions to global economic growth.

First, advancing the building of an Asia-Pacific community. An Asia-Pacific community is what APEC set out to build from the start, and is also the theme of the APEC China Year. We should stay focused on this goal, take concrete steps to deepen the building of an Asia-Pacific community, chart a roadmap for it, and put in place a framework for collective actions. The Shenzhen Declaration will be the most important outcome of the Economic Leaders’ Meeting. China is drawing up the draft declaration, and will circulate the zero draft in late September. We look forward to your insights and contributions.

Second, delivering new outcomes in trade, connectivity, and innovation. These will be the highlights of this year’s Economic Leaders’ Meeting and are the priorities of the APEC China Year. On trade, building on the consensus reached at the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in May. A standalone statement on FTAAP will be prepared to pursue flexible and pragmatic cooperation, and enhance the parties’ capacity of joining high-level economic and trade arrangements. On connectivity, a concept note on APEC connectivity cooperation has been circulated with a view to enhancing infrastructure, policy coordination, and personnel exchanges. On innovation, based on the deliverables of the APEC Digital Week in July, outcome documents on AI and the digital economy will be drafted to seize the opportunities presented by digital and intelligent transformation, and provide fresh impetus for innovation-driven growth in the Asia-Pacific.

Third, focusing on practical cooperation and inclusive development. APEC is notable for its diversity, with members having different development needs. It is important to fully accommodate the needs and concerns of all parties, particularly the developing economies’ aspiration for growth, and strengthen economic and technical cooperation and capacity building. Cooperation is the defining feature of APEC. We will host a number of ministerial meetings on SMEs, energy, transport, human resources, and finance. We look forward to in-depth discussions on a number of topics including high-quality development of SMEs, energy security and accessibility, urban transport governance, vocational skills training, and financial support for livelihood development We will also host APEC youth events to provide platforms for exchanges and interactions among youth representatives of member economies.

The Economic Leaders’ Meeting will be the priority of our work in the next stage. We have organized the first advance event. Yesterday, I made a special trip to Shenzhen to check on the preparations. The venues and facilities are basically ready and all preparations are advancing in a well-organized manner. Shenzhen will be at its best in hosting the Economic Leaders’ Meeting. China will keep in close touch with all parties, and make proper arrangements regarding agenda, protocol, security, and media to ensure the full success of the Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

Colleagues,

Asia-Pacific economic cooperation is our common endeavor. The achievements and progress accomplished so far under the APEC China Year are the result of all members’ joint efforts. I express heartfelt appreciation to the hard work of all senior officials. With less than three months to go before the Economic Leaders’ Meeting, preparations are in the final stretch. In the spirit of APEC, we need to leverage the coordinating role of SOM, hold friendly consultations to build common ground while bridging differences, and speed up the relevant consultations with a view to laying a solid ground for the Economic Leaders’ Meeting, and contributing our share to building an Asia-Pacific community.

I wish this SOM a full success.

Thank you.

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