With the 2026 APEC meetings approaching, attention is increasingly turning to Shenzhen. Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, foreign media representatives said that Asia-Pacific economies should remain open, drive growth through innovation, tackle global development challenges through cooperation and work toward building a closer Asia-Pacific community.
Advancing openness and connectivity to enhance development
At 1 a.m., a cargo plane loaded with export goods took off from Zhuhai Jinwan Airport for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. On board were electronics and aquatic products produced in Zhuhai, as well as cross-border e-commerce parcels transferred from Dongguan. The goods would reach consumer markets in Southeast Asia within 24 hours.
In recent years, Guangdong products have entered markets across many Asia-Pacific economies, further deepening regional economic and trade ties.
Xu Bingyi, Chairman of Malaysia Home and Abroad Media Group and President of Home and Abroad Magazine, has visited Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Jiangmen. He said that over more than four decades of reform and opening-up, China has not only advanced its own development, but also injected strong momentum into economic prosperity across the Asia-Pacific and the wider world.
Harnessing innovation to power economic growth
A new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, with frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence creating new opportunities for industrial cooperation across the Asia-Pacific.
In late July, the 2026 Asia-Pacific Digital and Intelligent Economy Sustainable Development Innovation Week was held in Longhua, Shenzhen, bringing together government officials, representatives of international organizations, business leaders and experts from across the region.
Online content creator Chen Yingling said the Asia-Pacific's large population, diverse languages and cultures, and varied market demand provide broad scope for the application of digital technologies and AI in translation, e-commerce, education and content production.
On July 24, the 2026 APEC High-Level Forum on AI was held in Chengdu. At the forum, China announced that it would establish the China Center for APEC Cooperation on Cross-border Data Flows in Qianhai, Shenzhen.
Cao Mingquan, President of Korea's Xinhua Paper, said China has accumulated extensive experience in AI innovation and real-world applications and plays a key role in promoting inclusive, broadly shared AI development across the Asia-Pacific.
Deepening mutually beneficial cooperation to build prosperity
On August 22, the 12th International Overseas Chinese Trade Fair and 2026 Asia-Pacific Industrial Cooperation and Global Expansion Expo concluded in Shenzhen. During the three-day event, buyers from APEC member economies accounted for more than 70 percent of participants, while over 50 overseas institutions organized procurement delegations.
Yuan Yan, Deputy Director of Washington Chinese TV in the United States, said industrial and supply chains across Asia-Pacific economies are becoming increasingly interconnected, while trade and investment flows, as well as movements of people and goods, are growing more frequent.
Wei Jiongcai, Deputy President of Chinese American Post, said the Asia-Pacific has a solid foundation for cooperation and a mature and stable framework. As regional economies increasingly influence and depend on one another, they should strengthen exchanges and coordination and enhance the region's overall capacity to respond to risks.
People-to-people exchanges are also an important way for APEC economies to deepen mutual understanding and friendship. On July 31, the 2026 Charming China (Guangdong): Lingnan Culture Travels to the South Pacific event opened in Papua New Guinea, adding fresh momentum to cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Papua New Guinea.
From trade and technological innovation to industrial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, openness, innovation and cooperation are becoming important drivers of Asia-Pacific development. As the 2026 APEC meetings draw closer, Shenzhen and Guangdong are set to offer a closer look at the region's efforts to deepen cooperation and pursue shared development.
Authors | Dai Bosi, Zhang Xuanzhen (intern)
Photo | Nanfang Plus
