China Hosts APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting, Emphasizing Regional Development
China hosted the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting in Chengdu in July, where participating economies adopted a ministerial statement. This statement signifies an agreement to promote digital and AI technologies to support regional development. As the host of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), China has placed digital and AI cooperation high on its agenda for that year. The theme for China's 2026 APEC host year is "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together," with a strong emphasis on openness, innovation, and cooperation. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance connectivity across the Asia-Pacific, moving beyond traditional physical infrastructure to include the coordinated development of digital infrastructure and standards. The Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG) also has a project scheduled for 2026 focusing on sharing experiences for cross-border data validation platforms within China.
