Passengers in the departure hall of the Huanggang Port in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, Oct 12, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]


BEIJING -- The APEC CEO Summit 2026 will be held in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, on Nov 17 and 18, with one month to go before the region's top business and government leaders gather to chart a course for Asia-Pacific prosperity.


Under the theme "promoting prosperity together for a win-win future," several APEC economy leaders will attend alongside business representatives, with discussions covering Asia-Pacific free trade area development, connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI), the digital economy, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and sustainable development.


The two-day event is organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).


Ng Yih Pyng, president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, said he looks forward to this summit driving smoother trade and economic flows, deeper industrial cooperation and more tangible business opportunities for companies across the region.


He called for progress on trade facilitation, lower cross-border business costs, and more cooperation in digital trade, AI applications, talent training and green technology.


An important event in the APEC calendar, the APEC CEO Summit has been held annually since 1996, serving as the highest-level platform for APEC economy leaders and business representatives to discuss open cooperation and advance regional economic development.


China has identified openness, innovation and cooperation as the three priority areas for this year's APEC cooperation, responding to the new opportunities and challenges facing the region. Business leaders believe the three priorities reflect the broadest common ground among all parties.


Masaharu Nakayama, executive officer of Panasonic Holdings Corporation Group, said Asia Pacific's economic dynamism is rooted in open cooperation.


The business community should deepen supply chain and value chain integration, tap new opportunities in AI, the digital economy and sustainable development through stronger connectivity, and together expand the pie of cooperation so that development benefits all economies in the region, he said.


On innovation cooperation, Ng highlighted the complementarity between Malaysia and China.


China has rich experience in digital technology, AI, advanced manufacturing and e-commerce, while Malaysia offers a solid manufacturing base, diverse talent and ASEAN business networks, he said, noting that the two countries could move toward industrial and innovation partners to explore regional markets.


During the 2026 APEC "China Year," regional business cooperation has advanced steadily, with deeper consensus on strengthening cooperation, tighter connectivity, and a stronger foundation for practical collaboration.


Ren Hongbin, chairman of the CCPIT, said the CCPIT will host a high-quality summit and launch a Shenzhen initiative to facilitate the building of the Asia-Pacific community.