International: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is widely regarded as the region’s highest-level, most comprehensive, and most influential economic cooperation mechanism. As a flagship business event under China’s APEC Year initiative, a high-level APEC Business Leaders’ Conference titled “Openness, Connectivity and Coordination: Linking the Asia-Pacific and Shaping the Future” was held in Beijing on June 21.

The conference brought together political and business leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on key topics including the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, connectivity, and digital innovation. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions and consensus-building efforts aimed at advancing regional and global development.

The Asia-Pacific region accounts for one-third of the world’s population, over 60 percent of global GDP, and nearly half of global trade. Against a backdrop of slowing global economic growth and weakening drivers of sustainable development, the region’s economic potential and development quality have drawn increasing attention.

“Business communities in the Asia-Pacific are pioneers of the era, drivers of change, and leaders of global trends,” said Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). He noted that regardless of global uncertainties and complexities, countries should move closer together, strengthen cooperation to overcome challenges, deepen collaboration, and promote mutual benefit. He urged APEC economies to firmly uphold the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, continue advancing trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and work together to promote regional prosperity and development.

The Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and regional connectivity networks remain key pillars of economic integration. The year 2026 will mark the 20th anniversary of the APEC Leaders’ declaration on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific vision. Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, said that at this important juncture, the business community should remain committed to cooperation, strengthen consensus on openness, steadily advance regional economic integration, and help APEC enhance the resilience of industrial and supply chains, thereby laying a stronger foundation for global economic recovery and growth.

Landon Loomis, U.S. representative to the APEC Business Advisory Council and President of Boeing China, said the aviation industry plays a crucial role in strengthening connectivity. Currently, around 14,000 Boeing aircraft operate globally every day, carrying an average of 11 million passengers. Over the next 20 years, approximately 60 percent of global aircraft deliveries are expected to go to the APEC region. He added that improving connectivity across sectors would further enhance economic and trade cooperation as well as cultural exchanges, strengthening global development momentum.

Innovation is widely seen as a key driver of economic growth in the Asia-Pacific and a new frontier for APEC business cooperation. As a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation accelerates—particularly in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies—global resource allocation and industrial patterns are being reshaped, creating vast opportunities for industrial collaboration in the region.

In the field of global sports sponsorship and branding, Chinese companies have also demonstrated growing international influence. Among 16 global sponsors of the ongoing FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, four are Chinese enterprises. TCL, as an official partner of national football teams including Argentina, Spain, Germany, and the Czech Republic, has further highlighted the global presence of Chinese brands.

“In the past decade and more, China’s manufacturing sector has accumulated extensive experience in smart manufacturing, industrial internet, digital supply chains, and the application of artificial intelligence,” said Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of TCL. He noted that significant development gaps and a persistent digital divide remain in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, leading Chinese manufacturing companies have both the responsibility and capability to support industrial upgrading through experience sharing, capacity building, and ecosystem collaboration, helping less developed economies improve competitiveness and promoting inclusive regional development.

Observing China’s application of AI across industrial production, financial services, and energy transformation, Safi, CEO of Sustainable Market Initiative, said that as real-world applications continue to expand, artificial intelligence will increasingly “illuminate” more sectors and aspects of people’s lives. He emphasized that APEC economies should work to bridge the digital divide, fully leverage the multiplier effect of digital innovation technologies such as AI, and help build the Asia-Pacific into a new center of economic growth, fostering a more resilient and dynamic digital ecosystem.

Source: Swarna–Alim–Lily, China Media Group