The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is hosting its annual economic leaders' meeting in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the event brings together leaders from the United States, China, Russia, and various Asian-Pacific nations to address economic growth and trade investment. The summit follows a CEO gathering held on November 17 and 18, preceding the official leaders' meeting. China is hosting the forum for the third time, having previously held events in Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.
The choice of Shenzhen is driven by domestic and international factors. Chim Lee, a senior analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, stated that the location allows China to showcase its development vision within the Greater Bay Area. This region, including Hong Kong and Macau, is positioned as a global technology hub. Lee added that the selection highlights Shenzhen's resilience to geopolitical turbulence, citing the city as the base for major tech and auto giants such as Huawei, Tencent, and BYD. The forum, founded in 1989 in Canberra, accounts for approximately 62% of global GDP and roughly half of global trade.
APEC operates on non-binding commitments reached by consensus, allowing participation by economies rather than just nations. This structure permits the inclusion of Chinese-ruled Hong Kong and democratically governed Taiwan, despite Beijing's claim over the latter. Taiwan has designated Stan Shih, the founder of Acer, as its envoy. Notably, India is not a member of the forum. As Asharq Al-Awsat reported, "It does not include India, the world's most populous nation, however."
Key issues for the summit include the economic ripple effects of Middle East instability, posing risks to energy security and supply chains. Analysts suggest that a tripartite meeting between Chinese, Russian, and US leaders will draw significant attention. China is reportedly hesitant to engage in nuclear disarmament talks due to its smaller arsenal compared to the US and Russia. Furthermore, China-US relations remain a focal point, with both sides falling short on commitments to an extended trade truce. Issues such as rare earth supplies, artificial intelligence, tariffs, and US arms sales to Taiwan are expected to feature prominently in discussions. Strains in China's ties with Japan and the Philippines, particularly regarding the South China Sea and Taiwan, will also be closely monitored by observers.