LIMA: When China first hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2001, the nation stood at a crossroads, poised to join the World Trade Organization.
It was a moment of transformation that signaled China’s readiness to step fully into the global economic arena.
By the time China hosted APEC again in 2014, the story was markedly different. The country had become an economic powerhouse, with its deeper integration into the world economy fueling a decade of breathtaking growth.
Now, China is set to play host again with a significant mission: to unite Asia-Pacific countries to champion open economic and trade cooperation while rejecting protectionist and confrontational trade tactics.
On Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking during the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, held in Peru’s capital Lima, announced that China would welcome APEC leaders to his country in 2026.
“We look forward to working with all parties to deepen Asia-Pacific cooperation to the benefit of the peoples in the region,” Xi said.
Its experience of hosting APEC twice before shows China can foster consensus, said Carlos Vasquez, 2024 chair of APEC senior officials ambassador.
“China played a very important role along with some other very important economies … to gain consensus again from the very beginning in the APEC year 2024 here in Peru,” said Vasquez.
China will play a pivotal role in strengthening the APEC forum in 2026 when it takes on the role of host, as much as it demonstrated during its successful leadership in 2014, he said.
During his speech, Xi urged APEC economies to “act in solidarity and cooperation to meet the challenges, fully deliver on the Putrajaya Vision 2040, build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, and start a new era in Asia-Pacific development.”
