Local officials introduce preparations during the press conference in Guangzhou on January 29, 2026.
A press conference on preparations and security measures for the first 2026 APEC senior officials' meeting and related meetings was held in Guangzhou on January 29.
As the host city of the meeting, Guangzhou, adhering to the principles of "simplicity, efficiency, and frugality," is diligently advancing all preparations, as local officials highlighted during the press conference.
Deng Changxiong, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, detailed three priorities: local services and support, well-planned city experience events, and a comprehensive presentation of Guangzhou's international quality.
He said Guangzhou had launched a local service and support mechanism for major national diplomatic and foreign affairs events. Twelve working groups have been established in areas such as comprehensive coordination, foreign affairs protocol, news publicity, cultural display, and volunteer services.
The meeting organizer adheres to world-class standards and provides comprehensive services throughout the entire process, including conference registration, participation, visits, exchanges, and participants' arrival and departure.
Notably, the organizer has assembled professional translators proficient in eight languages based on the representatives of the participating APEC member economies, including English, Russian, Spanish, French, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean.
Additionally, five city visit routes have been arranged for the participants. Participating delegates and media representatives will visit places such as the Canton Fair Complex, Fushan Circular Economy Industrial Park, and ancient villages to experience the new vitality of the old city.
WeRide's autonomous buses in Guangzhou will shuttle between the meeting venue and the hotels for guests to experience. The Haixinsha Full-Space Intelligent Experience Center will showcase representative achievements of new quality productive forces from local firms such as XPeng, Aion, EHang, and XAG.
Furthermore, Guangzhou will demonstrate its industrial advantages, build cooperation and matchmaking platforms, and further promote its world-class business environment.
The city will integrate traditional Chinese New Year elements such as lantern festivals and flower markets into supporting cultural and tourism celebrations. This international event coincides with the traditional festival, fostering a festive Chinese New Year atmosphere.
Relevant progress in preparations was also presented by officials from the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Forestry and Parks, and the Standing Committee of the CPC Baiyun District Committee of Guangzhou.
As the host of APEC in 2026, China will hold the first APEC senior officials' meeting and related meetings in Guangzhou from February 1 to 10 at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center. This will be the first official event of the APEC "China Year."
More than 70 meetings and related events will be held during the meeting, covering topics such as trade and investment, economic and technological cooperation, scientific and technological innovation, digital economy, cross-border e-commerce, market access, marine and fisheries, intellectual property, food security, health, connectivity, and digitalization of SMEs.
Focusing on the theme of the 2026 APEC "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together" and the three priorities of "openness, innovation, and cooperation," the meeting will initiate cooperation across all areas and mechanisms, engage in in-depth discussions on specific cooperation, and accumulate outcomes for the Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.
Reporter | Zhang Ruijun
Photo | Zhang Ruijun
