According to a Chinese representative, the third meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) senior officials within the context of APEC China Year concluded in Dalian, Liaoning Province, in northeastern China, on August 28. Participants made progress in preparing for the APEC Economic Leaders' Summit, which is scheduled for November in Shenzhen.
A spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gao Jiakun, made these statements during a regular press conference in Beijing in response to an inquiry about the meeting and its main outcomes. The third APEC senior officials meeting within APEC China Year and related events took place in Dalian from August 17 to August 28. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Ma Xiaosu, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
Gao Jiakun noted that this meeting was the largest gathering of senior officials during APEC China Year in terms of both the number of participants and the number of events held. APEC committees and working groups conducted nearly 130 meetings and events covering areas such as trade, transport, food, customs, science and technology, energy, healthcare, disaster risk reduction, and anti-corruption.
According to Gao, over 3,000 representatives from APEC member economies, as well as APEC Secretariat staff and observers, attended the sessions. Participants held in-depth discussions under the common theme of APEC China Year—'Building a Prosperous Asia-Pacific Community'—and focused on three priority areas: 'Openness, Innovation, and Cooperation.' Furthermore, they exchanged views on preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders' Summit, which will take place in Shenzhen in November.
Under the 'Openness' priority, China conducted a political dialogue on connectivity, laying the foundation for the development of an updated APEC Connectivity Plan. Regarding the 'Innovation' priority, China organized a political dialogue dedicated to the digital economy and artificial intelligence as drivers of economic growth. Participants discussed ways to use AI to stimulate economic development, improve people's well-being, and bridge the digital divide, building on the momentum created during the APEC Digital Week held in Chengdu in July.
In the area of 'Cooperation,' China continued to develop practical interactions in fields such as anti-corruption, customs, food security, fisheries and maritime affairs, public health, and energy. Significant results were achieved in areas like promoting integrity for prosperity and strengthening customs cooperation to facilitate security and ease trade. Gao added that the final meeting of APEC China Year senior officials will be held in Shenzhen before the APEC Economic Leaders' Summit in November.