Beijing outlines trade, infrastructure goals for APEC 2026

China has set out its main priorities for the APEC 2026 summit, saying it will work toward the adoption of a clearly focused and well-structured final document at this year’s leaders’ meeting.

According to Chinese media, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks on February 10 while speaking at the opening of the First Meeting of Senior Officials of APEC China-2026 (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). 

He said Beijing intends to ensure that the outcome document of the summit reflects concrete and coherent priorities.

Wang noted that China will actively promote efforts to advance the creation of a free trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region and will support the development of a plan aimed at modernising transport infrastructure across APEC economies.

He added that, driven by innovation, China will encourage APEC members to pursue digital, intelligent, and green transformation. In parallel, Beijing will seek to deepen practical cooperation in a range of areas linked to development-related governance, he said.

APEC, or Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is a regional forum established in 1989 to promote economic cooperation across the Asia-Pacific. It brings together 21 economies from Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas, including the US, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, Chile, and others.

The forum’s core objectives are to facilitate trade and investment, support economic growth, and promote regional economic integration. APEC operates through non-binding commitments, dialogue, and practical cooperation rather than legally binding treaties. Its key areas of work include trade liberalisation, supply-chain connectivity, the digital economy, sustainable growth, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. APEC also seeks to ease business travel through initiatives such as the APEC Business Travel Card.

Decisions within APEC are taken by consensus, and the organisation holds annual leaders’ and ministers’ meetings, which are hosted on a rotating basis by member economies.

The APEC China 2026 will be a year-long hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, which will conclude with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2026. It will be the third time China hosted the summit, having previously hosted it in 2001 and 2014.

By Tamilla Hasanova