China is a beneficiary of APEC cooperation, and also an important contributor.

Ask AI · How does China balance its own development and regional cooperation responsibilities within APEC?

Editor’s note: 2026 is “China Year” at APEC. This November, the APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting will be held in Shenzhen. From integrating into Asia-Pacific regional cooperation in 1991, to joining the WTO in 2001 and fully integrating into the global system, to becoming the world’s second-largest economy today—China’s 35 years with APEC is not only a period of reform, opening up, and rapid growth but also an important journey of deep participation in and promotion of globalization cooperation.

Our magazine interviewed researcher Zhang Yansheng from the China Macroeconomic Research Institute and Liu Chenyang, Director of the APEC Research Center at Nankai University, reviewing China’s journey from joining APEC, entering the WTO, to becoming a major engine of the global economy today. They elaborated on the成果 of China’s “two-way pursuit” with APEC, analyzed key topics such as upgrading connectivity, artificial intelligence governance, and building consensus on openness.

In the context of escalating global geopolitical competition, APEC’s value as the main channel for Asia-Pacific regional cooperation is increasingly prominent. As the host of 2026 APEC, China is actively promoting all parties to find the greatest common ground through openness, innovation, and cooperation, injecting new momentum into the construction of the Asia-Pacific community.

Our magazine reporter Yang Lin

“China Economic Weekly”: Since China joined APEC in 1991, how do you evaluate China’s development over these 35 years?

Zhang Yansheng: In 1978, China launched reform and opening-up, entering a new stage of development. In 1991, China joined APEC, which was a significant strategic move for China to actively participate in globalization and integrate into the world.

Although the international environment at that time still had some unfavorable factors for China, joining APEC further gained recognition and acceptance from the international community, marking a historic turning point. In 1992, Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Tour clarified that China’s reform and opening-up direction was to develop a socialist market economy. Joining APEC created conditions for China to enter a fast track of development. Over the next ten years, China was able to advance opening gradually according to its own development needs. In 2001, China joined the WTO, further deepening integration into the world, aligning its institutional mechanisms with international rules, and significantly enhancing its industrial competitiveness, leading to a leap in its international status.

The 35 years of APEC membership coincided with a critical period of China’s economic transformation. From a per capita GDP still below India’s to becoming the world’s second-largest economy today, these 35 years are China’s 35 years of soaring. Today, China’s per capita GDP and total GDP are five times those of India. During this period, China and APEC members gradually established good cooperative relations. Throughout the process, China has actively promoted reform and opening-up and economic development, while also making positive contributions to regional openness and globalization.

“China Economic Weekly”: What development opportunities has APEC brought to China? What contributions has China made to APEC?

Zhang Yansheng: The liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment have always been key drivers of APEC. As an important trade and investment country among APEC members, China is not only a major participant in two-way investment and trade but also a significant contributor, playing a crucial role in promoting globalization.

Meanwhile, China is both a beneficiary of and a key promoter of new technological revolutions and industrial transformations, making active contributions in innovation, openness, green development, and poverty reduction. On major issues such as managing relations with major powers and between developed and developing economies, China has also played an important role.

During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, many Asian APEC members were in trouble. China was the first to state that the renminbi would not devalue, effectively stabilizing the East Asian currency system and alleviating regional shocks. China played a very important role in helping East Asian economies recover from that crisis.

“China Economic Weekly”: How has China participated in important issues within APEC at different stages amid changing international relations?

Zhang Yansheng: The 35 years of China’s APEC membership can be divided into two stages.

The first stage, 1991 to 2008, was the era of super globalization. From 1990 to 2021, China’s GDP increased by 71 percentage points relative to the US GDP, and China and the US became two economies exceeding $10 trillion. China and the US demonstrated good cooperation through various crises.

The second stage, after 2008, saw the US gradually start to reverse globalization. Over these years, the trade and investment environment changed, and technological and industrial revolutions shifted from IT to AI. For APEC, major power relations have always been central. When China joined APEC in 1991, it was already a major power, and many APEC affairs depend on communication and negotiation between China and the US.

“China Economic Weekly”: What opportunities does the Shenzhen meeting in 2026 offer to APEC members?

Zhang Yansheng: 2001 was the first time China hosted the APEC summit. That year, the dot-com bubble burst, and the “9/11” attacks occurred, causing a severe blow to the global economy. The same year, China joined the WTO, which was a huge positive energy for the world. During this period, China had generally entered a well-off society, with rapid development in real estate, construction, and heavy industries, becoming a widely admired economy globally.

This year’s Shenzhen meeting coincides with the start of China’s “14th Five-Year Plan,” marking a new stage of development. The APEC meeting includes leaders’ summits, business forums, and various sub-forums, providing comprehensive opportunities for international representatives to understand China better. Seeing China firsthand is far more valuable than hearsay, and this “seeing is believing” approach helps enhance communication and mutual trust.

This year’s APEC meeting has established three priority areas—openness, innovation, and cooperation. In the context of anti-globalization, APEC members can actively promote regional openness, driven by innovation, fostering cooperation in AI, green development, and other technological fields, as well as industry, institutional, and market innovation.