(Nov 1): China will host the 2026 Apec summit in the southern city of Shenzhen, underscoring Beijing’s bid to showcase its innovation and technological prowess.
The summit will be held in November next year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Saturday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. It will mark the third time China has hosted the forum, following summits in Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.
Often dubbed China’s Silicon Valley, Shenzhen transformed from a small fishing village into a global technology hub after former leader Deng Xiaoping designated it a special economic zone some four decades ago. The city, just across the border from Hong Kong, is home to some of China’s biggest tech firms, including Tencent Holdings Ltd, Huawei Technologies Co and BYD Co.
Describing Shenzhen as a symbol of modernity and progress, Xi said the city “is a miracle in the history of world development created by the Chinese people.”
China will use the opportunity as Apec host to promote cooperation in key areas such as free trade, connectivity, the digital economy and artificial intelligence in the region, he added.
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