China pledges closer APEC cooperation ahead of finance ministers' meeting

China is committed to joining hands with other APEC economies to uphold multilateralism, deepen macroeconomic policy coordination, ensure the stability and smooth operation of regional industrial and supply chains, and collectively promote long-term sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific region, thereby supporting the development of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, said a senior official with the ministry of finance on Wednesday.

The official made the remarks during an interview about the background and significance, key topics and expected outcomes of the upcoming APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting.

Lan Fo'an, China's minister of finance, will lead the Chinese delegation to attend and chair the meeting, while Vice-minister of Finance Liao Min will deliver remarks on behalf of the Chinese side, according to the ministry.

As the 2026 APEC host, China will hold the meeting in Hong Kong on Oct 20 and 21. The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will follow in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, from Nov 18 to 19.

The APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting is one of the most important ministerial meetings under the APEC mechanism, serving as a key platform for economies to strengthen communication on macroeconomic policies and deepen fiscal and financial cooperation.

"China will stay true to APEC's original aspiration of boosting economic growth and improving people's well-being, continue to share opportunities and pursue win-win results through open development, and advance inclusive economic globalization, aiming to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future," the official said.

China has set "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together" as the theme of the APEC year, with openness, innovation and cooperation as its three priorities.

Centered on that, and in response to the new Asia-Pacific economic development stage, China has proposed four key topics for the fiscal channel--fiscal policies that support livelihoods, financing for digital infrastructure, tailored approaches to promoting inclusive financial development, and young financial talent exchange, the official said.

Representatives from the respective economies are expected to conduct further in-depth exchanges and produce consensus documents and related outcomes on key issues, the official said, adding it is hoped that these outcomes will summarize beneficial experiences from all parties, promote policy exchanges and experience sharing, provide support for deepening future fiscal and financial cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, and help bolster regional economic growth.