2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting held in Chengdu

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China hosted the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on July 23, 2026. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing attended the meeting and delivered opening remark. Minister of Industry and Information Technology of China Li Lecheng presided over the meeting as Chair. Ambassador Chen Xu, APEC 2026 SOM Chair, Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, and Janet De Silva, Chair of the Digital and Innovation Working Group of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. Xiong Jijun, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology spoke on behalf of China on the meeting's agenda sessions. The meeting was also attended by ministers and representatives of digital and AI administrations from APEC member economies, as well as representatives from APEC observers, the APEC Secretariat, and ABAC.

The APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting is one of the key ministerial-level meetings under the APEC framework and serves as an important platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation in the digital and ICT sectors across the Asia-Pacific region. Centering on implementing the important initiative of "further unleashing the potential of digital and smart development to give the Asia Pacific region a fresh edge in innovation-driven development" put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2025, the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting adopts "Digital Technologies and AI for the Empowerment of an Asia-Pacific Community" as its theme. Participating economies engaged in in-depth discussions on three topics. First, strengthening digital technologies and AI for development—unlocking the potential of digital technologies and AI to empower sectors such as healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture, industry, and culture, and ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared by all. Second, promoting universal and meaningful digital connectivity—building fast, reliable, accessible, affordable, and resilient digital and ICT infrastructure to provide a solid foundation for digital and AI-driven development. Third, supporting digital inclusion and digital skills enhancement—bridging the digital and AI divides, and enabling everyone to share the benefits of AI knowledge and digital dividends.

The meeting adopted the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Statement (Chengdu Statement), in which the participating economies agreed to jointly leverage digital technologies and AI to empower the Asia-Pacific community. Chengdu Statement establishes an action framework for APEC to deepen cooperation in the digital and AI fields in the period ahead.