Chinese modernization: New achievements, new opportunities for Asia-Pacific and the world

BEIJING, Nov. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily:

The 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen, a coastal city in south China's Guangdong province, from Nov. 18 to 19. Leaders from all 21 APEC member economies will gather to discuss ways to build an Asia-Pacific community and promote shared prosperity. The meeting is expected to deliver significant outcomes in areas such as openness, innovation, and cooperation.

Openness is the lifeblood and keynote of Asia-Pacific cooperation, as well as a distinct hallmark of Chinese modernization. China and the Asia-Pacific are closely intertwined, like the vines and roots of a sweet potato plant. China's development benefits from the region, and in turn, its high-level opening-up continuously provides new opportunities for the region and the world.

Guided by a historical perspective and a global vision for the greater good, China advocates that all parties work together to build an inclusive, open Asia-Pacific economy for all, continuously offering new opportunities to the region and the world through the new achievements of Chinese modernization.

A China that steadfastly pursues open development, promotes connectivity, and empowers the region through innovation continues to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the region, and the building of an Asia-Pacific community.

China remains committed to its fundamental national policy of opening-up, and is taking concrete steps to foster an open world economy.

Trade between China and fellow APEC economies totaled 24.07 trillion yuan (approximately $3.6 trillion) in the first three quarters of this year, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 23.9 percent. In 2025, China served as the top trading partner for 13 APEC members.

By continuously fostering a world-class, market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment, China enables investors from around the world to establish a presence and expand their operations in the regional market with peace of mind.

The country has implemented unilateral visa-free entry for nationals of 50 countries and a 240-hour visa-free transit policy for 57 countries, creating a vibrant two-way flow of travelers between China and its Asia-Pacific partners.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the proposal of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) vision by APEC leaders. Making "openness" one of the three priority areas for advancing the annual agenda and actively exploring pathways for FTAAP construction, China aims to ensure that the Asia-Pacific continues to serve as the driving force behind economic globalization. Through these efforts, China seeks to make the open and inclusive spirit of the Asia-Pacific shine even brighter.

In November 2014, the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, held on the shores of Yanqi Lake in Beijing, adopted the APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025, charting a clear course for deeper regional connectivity.

This year, China is serving as the APEC host for the third time. At the initiative of China and with the support of all parties, the APEC Business Advisory Council has reactivated its Connectivity Working Group after an eight-year hiatus.

Looking ahead to the upcoming 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, China will work with other APEC economies to develop an upgraded blueprint for connectivity, contributing Chinese solutions to boosting regional connectivity.

On the trade facilitation front, China has achieved customs data mutual recognition with 12 APEC economies and mutual recognition in Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status with 10 APEC economies. It has also carried out cooperation with eight APEC economies under international trade Single Window systems.

Meanwhile, the scope of visa-free travel within the Asia-Pacific region continues to expand, while measures to facilitate cross-border tourism are steadily improving.

China brings together all member economies on both sides of the Pacific by connecting physical structures, rules and regulations, and hearts of people, continually reinforcing the foundation for open development across the Asia-Pacific.

The in-depth advancement of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation has opened up promising new horizons for human society.

Between 2014 and 2026, internet penetration among APEC economies surged from 52 percent to nearly 90 percent, fueling robust consumer demand for innovative industries across the region.

Guided by an innovation-led growth strategy, China is actively developing future industries, strengthening emerging industries, and upgrading traditional industries. At the same time, the country remains committed to openness and cooperation in science and technology, enabling the innovation momentum from China to be continually transformed into a powerful driving force for economic development in the Asia-Pacific.

The Asia-Pacific Model E-port Network and the Cooperation Network on Green Supply Chain initiated by China under APEC have become important platforms for regional cooperation on the digital and green upgrades for trade.

In addition, by hosting the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting, as well as APEC High-Level Forum on AI and APEC Data for Growth High-level Roundtable, China has established new platforms for AI cooperation across the region.

As China accelerates its innovation agenda and pursues high-quality development, it continues to generate substantial economic opportunities for the Asia-Pacific and the world.

At the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, China will join hands with other Asia-Pacific economies to advance regional integration through openness, foster shared prosperity through connectivity, and boost development momentum through innovation. Together, they will foster a prosperous, stable, open, interconnected, universally beneficial, inclusive, united and mutually supportive Asia-Pacific, steadily advancing toward the shared goal of building an Asia-Pacific community.

SOURCE People's Daily