China Proposes 'Building Asia-Pacific Community' as Core Theme for APEC 2026

On March 8, 2026, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced at a press conference that China will host the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, its third time as host, with the theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community for Shared Prosperity." Wang stated that the concept of an Asia-Pacific community has existed for decades but must not remain on paper, and Shenzhen aims to build consensus, identify priority areas, and deliver concrete actions to turn the vision into reality. The Shenzhen APEC will focus on openness, innovation, and cooperation as three priority areas, promoting digital, smart, and green transformations, with over 300 events to be held across multiple Chinese cities throughout the year.