Preparations Enter Final Stage for Shenzhen APEC CEO Summit: CCPIT
Preparations for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit have entered their final stage in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, with business representatives from all 21 APEC economies registered to attend the Nov. 17-18 event, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said on Friday.
Hosting the summit marks the third time China has hosted APEC and the first time in 12 years. The broader “China Year” entails some 300 events across multiple Chinese cities, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
Shenzhen Prepares for Regional Business Leaders and Global Firms
Business representatives from all 21 APEC member economies have signed up for the gathering in Shenzhen. Well-known companies based in non-APEC nations, including Britain, France, Germany, and Switzerland, have also registered, Wang Wenshuai, spokesperson for the CCPIT, stated.
Several leaders of APEC economies will deliver speeches, participate in panel discussions, and hold direct exchanges with business executives from across the region. The summit is hosted by the CCPIT under the theme “To Prosper and Win the Future Together.”
The agenda in Shenzhen addresses the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, connectivity, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, sustainable development, and digital and green transformation.
Advisory Council Convenes Ahead of Leaders’ Meeting
Prior to the CEO Summit, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) will hold its fourth meeting of the year in Shenzhen from Nov. 14 to 16. ABAC serves as a mechanism for the regional business community to participate in APEC cooperation and submit policy recommendations to economy leaders.
Operating under the annual theme “Openness, Connectivity and Synergy,” the council will focus on regional economic integration, sustainable development, connectivity, and digital innovation. Members will also review the year’s work and discuss priorities for the coming year.
Throughout 2026, the council has held three prior meetings in Jakarta, Mexico City, and Bangkok, producing 14 outcome documents. The CEO Summit will draw on these policy recommendations and discussions to jointly issue a Shenzhen initiative with the Asia-Pacific business community.
The initiative will align with the overarching theme of APEC China 2026, “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together.” It reflects the business community’s commitment to promoting openness, inclusive development, innovation, connectivity, and mutually beneficial cooperation across the region, according to Wang.
The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting
The APEC CEO Summit takes place on the sidelines of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. China will host that leadership gathering in Shenzhen on Nov. 18 and 19.