At the handover session of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, it was announced that China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen in 2026. In an exclusive interview, Professor Kishore Mahbubani, former Singaporean Ambassador to the UN, shared his insights on the city's remarkable journey and global significance.
Reflecting on Shenzhen's unprecedented growth, Mahbubani stated, "In 50 years, Shenzhen has clearly become the fastest-growing city in the world's history." He further emphasized how Shenzhen has cultivated a dynamic ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship: "Shenzhen has succeeded in creating an ecosystem that generates numerous success stories in terms of new enterprises and entrepreneurs."
Drawing from his firsthand experience attending the inaugural APEC leaders' meeting in Seattle, Mahbubani highlighted the importance of venue selection. Recalling the historic 1993 meeting between President Clinton and Chinese leaders, he noted, "When APEC leaders come here and see the extraordinary progress Shenzhen has made, they'll be very impressed and say, 'We must all visit Shenzhen.'"
Looking ahead, Mahbubani expressed confidence that Shenzhen's model holds lessons beyond China: "I think China's experience with special economic zones can certainly be a source of inspiration for the rest of the world." He even suggested that former U.S. leaders like Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush would be "astonished" by the progress achieved in Shenzhen and across China.
As Shenzhen prepares to welcome global leaders in 2026, its story of rapid transformation continues to resonate—not only as a national achievement but as a blueprint for sustainable development and international cooperation.
Reporter: Liu Xiaodi, Guo Zedong
Text & Script: Guo Zedong
Video & Cover: Liang Zijian
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, Ou Xiaoming, James Campion, Shen He
