APEC's 'Shenzhen Rendezvous' set to shine even brighter

The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled to take place in Shenzhen this November, is poised to eclipse previous summits in global impact and strategic significance, according to Zhang Jing’an, an academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences.

Zhang Jing’an, an academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and president of China Society of Scientific and Technological Reform, poses for a photo at the 2nd Round of the China-U.S. Leading Scholars Dialogue. Courtesy of the interviewee

In a recent interview with Shenzhen News Group, Zhang, also president of China Society of Scientific and Technological Reform, said the city’s selection as the third Chinese host — following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014 — underscores its exceptional core strengths and signals a new “special mission” on the world stage.

“APEC stands as the highest-level, broadest, and most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific,” Zhang said. Since its inception in 1989, the 21-member bloc has expanded to account for nearly half of global trade, serving as a primary engine for world economic growth and regional integration.

Zhang observed that Shenzhen’s transformation from a small border town into a sprawling international metropolis over 45 years is a “miracle in the history of world development.” He described the city as a living laboratory for Chinese modernization, making it a uniquely symbolic venue for the summit.

Zhang Jing’an

“The meeting serves as a vital window for showcasing the profound achievements of China’s reform and opening-up,” Zhang said. “Through the APEC platform, the global community can gain a clearer view of China’s development trajectory, while the summit itself signals the country’s unwavering commitment to high-level opening-up.”

He added that by hosting the event, Shenzhen will set a benchmark for open development, encouraging member economies to deepen globalization, engage in international rule-making, and inject much-needed certainty into the global economy.

Zhang described APEC China 2026 as a transformative milestone for Shenzhen. He called on the city to elevate its global profile, transitioning from a domestic powerhouse to a central player in the Asia-Pacific and the world. With its robust industrial ecosystem, he said, Shenzhen is uniquely positioned to export its technological expertise and strengthen global innovation and supply chain integration.

“Through APEC, Shenzhen should actively seek broader cooperation and high-quality partnerships to better allocate global resources and expand its economic footprint,” he said. “By sharing these opportunities, Shenzhen can help make the Asia-Pacific the world’s most dynamic economic region.”

Zhang further proposed that Shenzhen leverage the summit to help build the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) into a global hub for science and technology. By drawing on the complementary strengths of the three regions, the city can facilitate the piloting and commercialization of innovation projects within APEC economies before rolling them out worldwide.

He believes that Shenzhen, known as China’s “Silicon Valley,” embodies the three pillars of APEC 2026: openness, innovation, and cooperation. Zhang cited the Global Innovation Index 2025 — which ranked the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster first globally — as evidence of Shenzhen’s readiness to lead.

Looking ahead, Zhang singled out artificial intelligence as a strategic technology driving today’s tech revolution with ripple effects across industries — a field where Shenzhen excels. He believes the city is uniquely equipped to offer “Shenzhen solutions” in the realms of digitalization, smart technologies, and green development.

“No single economy can achieve a full-chain technological breakthrough in isolation,” Zhang said. “Strengthening scientific cooperation is essential to breaking development bottlenecks. I hope Shenzhen will use this summit as a springboard for a new chapter in building a closer Asia-Pacific community and achieving mutual prosperity.”