China to Host 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen in November 2026

Shenzhen Selected as Host City for APEC 2026

China has officially announced that the city of Shenzhen will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2026. The announcement was made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the 2025 APEC summit held in Gyeongju, South Korea. This upcoming summit will be the third time China has hosted the annual gathering of Asia-Pacific leaders, following previous events in Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.

The selection of Shenzhen, a city located on China's Pacific coast and adjacent to Hong Kong, highlights its remarkable transformation and economic significance. President Xi Jinping lauded Shenzhen's evolution from a 'small, backward fishing village into a modern international metropolis' over the past few decades, describing its rise as a 'miracle in the history of world development created by the Chinese people' and an 'important window to China's unswerving pursuit of a mutually beneficial and win-win opening-up strategy'.

Shenzhen: A Hub of Innovation and Economic Growth

Shenzhen's rapid development makes it a fitting location for the APEC summit, which focuses on regional economic cooperation. The city has emerged as a global innovation powerhouse and a key engine of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

• In 2024, Shenzhen's GDP soared to 3.68 trillion yuan ($516.73 billion), a significant increase from just 270 million yuan in 1980.
• Its total import and export value reached 4.5 trillion yuan in 2024, cementing its position as China's top foreign trade city.
• The city is home to numerous tech giants, including Huawei, Tencent, and DJI, showcasing its advancements in sectors such as wireless communication and digital innovation.

Observers note that Shenzhen's dynamism and innovative capacity reflect the very principles APEC aims to promote, aligning with the forum's emphasis on open trade, digital transformation, and sustainable growth.

APEC's Mission and China's Role

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an inter-governmental forum comprising 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim, established in 1989 to promote free trade and economic cooperation across the region. APEC's overarching mission is to 'build a dynamic and harmonious Asia-Pacific community by championing free and open trade and investment, promoting and accelerating regional economic integration, encouraging economic and technical cooperation, enhancing human security, and facilitating a favorable and sustainable business environment'.

China has been an active participant in APEC since joining in 1991, alongside Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei. As host of the 2026 meeting, China is expected to 'vigorously' push for cooperation in critical areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy, further contributing to the forum's goals of balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, and secure growth.

Looking Ahead to November 2026

The upcoming 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen will provide a platform for leaders to discuss development plans for the Asia-Pacific region and address contemporary challenges. The choice of Shenzhen is seen as an opportunity to showcase China's development model and its path to modernization, particularly to developing economies. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed confidence that Shenzhen will 'present a splendid APEC meeting for the world'.