The first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Senior Officials' Meeting and related events commenced in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, on Feb 1, marking the first official event of the APEC "China Year".

As agreed by all APEC members, the theme for APEC in 2026 is "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together". To advance this vision, the APEC "China Year" has identified openness, innovation and cooperation as its three priorities.

As a historic commercial hub that has remained open to the outside world for over two millennia, Guangzhou embodies the spirit of openness central to APEC cooperation. The city's deep economic integration with the region is demonstrated by its absorption of nearly $120 billion in utilized foreign investment from other APEC economies, accounting for 82.8 percent of its total.

Building on the "China Year" momentum, Guangzhou is launching a series of robust initiatives to strengthen its global ties. Plans include participation in over 150 overseas exhibitions, hosting more than 30 fairs in key economies such as Vietnam and Indonesia, and conducting over 100 investment promotion activities in APEC cities.