On February 10, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the opening session of APEC 2026 First Senior Officials' Meeting in Guangzhou and delivered remarks.

Wang Yi said that this is the third time that China plays host to APEC—and the first after twelve years. Back in 2001, China successfully held the APEC meeting in Shanghai, which signaled a fresh start for Asia-Pacific cooperation in the new century. In 2014, China, after entering the new era, hosted the Beijing meeting, where all parties made the commitment to fostering a forward-looking Asia-Pacific partnership and laid out a shared vision for the region's long-term development and shared prosperity. Currently, on the critical question of the time—"Where should Asia-Pacific development be headed?"—President Xi Jinping has pointed the way forward: stay true to APEC's founding mission of promoting economic growth and improving people's lives, champion open development where everyone shares opportunities and emerges a winner, promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and build an Asia-Pacific community. To achieve this goal:

First, APEC countries should build a prosperous and stable Asia-Pacific. APEC countries should follow the "APEC Way" by keeping regional cooperation on the right track. APEC countries should uphold the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, focus on practical cooperation, deepen convergence of interests, and achieve shared prosperity.

Second, APEC countries should build an open and interconnected Asia-Pacific. APEC countries should strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, uphold open regionalism, advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and build closer industrial and supply chains. APEC countries should safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, leverage the guiding role of regional trade arrangements, and gather momentum toward a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

Third, APEC countries should build a universally beneficial and inclusive Asia-Pacific. APEC countries should scale up support for developing economies, and ensure that emerging technologies like AI benefit more people. APEC countries should put people first, grow the economic pie and distribute it fairly. APEC countries should promote green economic growth, and achieve sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific.

Fourth, APEC countries should build a united and mutually supportive Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific countries should uphold APEC's purposes and principles, work in solidarity, forge ahead with resolve, and strive to open up a new era of Asia-Pacific development.

Wang Yi said that China has chosen the theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together" for this year and will advance the entire annual agenda with the focus on the three priorities of openness, innovation, and cooperation. Asia-Pacific countries should reaffirm the original aspirations of Asia-Pacific cooperation, focus on the future of APEC, and work toward a clear, substantive outcome document at this year's Leaders' Meeting. Asia-Pacific countries should actively broaden the path toward the FTAAP, work toward an upgraded Connectivity Blueprint and build greater consensus on regional economic integration. Digital, smart, and green transformations driven by innovation represent new growth drivers and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific countries should bear in mind the diversity among APEC members, and deepen practical cooperation across wide-ranging areas of governance that are integral to development.

Wang Yi stated that the APEC "China Year" coincides with the launch of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. China will further deepen reform comprehensively, continue expanding high-standard opening up, and deliver new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific and the wider world with the new achievements of Chinese modernization. As the host, China will build on APEC's existing consensus and outcomes, and make new contributions to Asia-Pacific cooperation.

From February 1 to 10, the APEC First Senior Officials' Meeting and related meetings were held in Guangzhou. The meeting marked the first official event held by China as the 2026 APEC host, bringing together over 1,400 representatives from member economies. All parties engaged in in-depth discussions centered on the theme and the three priorities of the APEC "China Year", and comprehensively initiated cooperation across various sectors to deliver outcomes for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held in November. All parties spoke highly of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks, noting that his remarks fully demonstrate China's firm commitment and leading role in Asia-Pacific regional cooperation. They expressed readiness to actively support China in hosting the meetings and jointly strive for fruitful results in the APEC "China Year", so as to make greater contributions to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.