Asia-Pacific Media Forum Opens in Shenzhen, Highlighting Regional Cooperation

The Asia-Pacific Media High-Level Forum opened September 5 at the Qianhai International Conference Center in Shenzhen, bringing together more than 400 representatives from media organizations, think tanks, government departments, and international organizations across 42 countries and regions. The event, organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency, and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, is a key component of the APEC “China Year” 2026 activities, as Xinhua reported.

Forum Theme and Significance

Under the theme “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action,” the forum aims to foster dialogue among media leaders from across the region. China is hosting APEC for the third time in 2026, following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014, with the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for November in Shenzhen. The APEC 2026 theme, “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together,” centers on three priorities: openness, innovation, and cooperation.

In a video address, Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, called for bringing together voices from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss growth and prosperity, as reported by Xinhua. CNN Senior Vice President Costas Economou told attendees that the region’s diversity “should not be seen as an obstacle but as a source of strength,” adding that deepening dialogue with Asia-Pacific media is invaluable, according to Xinhua coverage.

Pre-Forum Activities and Sub-Forums

Before the main forum, over 200 guests visited cities across the Greater Bay Area from September 2-4, including Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Zhongshan. Four sub-forums were held September 3-4, covering topics ranging from open innovation and digital transformation to cultural exchange and Shenzhen’s modernization story.

At the Dongguan sub-forum, participants toured the DeRUCCI 5G Smart Gigafactory and OPPO’s Binhai Bay campus, witnessing how AI and smart manufacturing are reshaping traditional industries. Donovan Martin, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Daily News Canada, remarked on his fifth visit to China: “We often talk about technology being the future, but in Dongguan, we see: the future has arrived,” as China.com.cn reported. At the Shenzhen sub-forum on September 4, Li Huiling, CEO of SPH Media Chinese Media Group in Singapore, suggested that Shenzhen should use the “APEC time” to further explore openness, allowing China and the world to communicate more comfortably, as Lianhe Zaobao noted.

Major Think Tank Report Released

A significant outcome of the forum was the release of a global report by Xinhua’s National High-end Think Tank titled “Openness, Innovation, Cooperation - Building a More Prosperous Asia-Pacific Community.” The report, exceeding 15,000 Chinese characters and published in both Chinese and English, systematically reviews APEC’s achievements over its 37-year history and analyzes opportunities and challenges for regional cooperation, according to Xinhua.

Media’s Role in an AI-Driven Era

Artificial intelligence emerged as a central topic of discussion at the forum. Participants explored how AI is reshaping media production, distribution, and consumption, and emphasized the need for open and collaborative AI ecosystems rather than isolated technological competition. Chen Hanguang, Editor-in-Chief of Malaysia’s Sin Chew Daily, described how a reporter in Kuala Lumpur can now have material reach Beijing, Bangkok, and Jakarta within minutes across different language platforms. Yeom Young-nam, CEO of South Korea’s Newsis news agency, told Xinhua before the forum that “media connects accurate facts with diverse voices. Only by continuously strengthening exchanges, adhering to dialogue, and deepening cooperation can we promote a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future for the Asia-Pacific region.”

Looking Ahead

Shenzhen’s significance as the forum’s host city is underscored by its economic data: in the first half of 2026, the city’s trade with other APEC economies rose 33 percent to 1.98 trillion yuan (about $292 billion), accounting for 68.8 percent of its total foreign trade, as Xinhua English reported.

As the forum concludes, attention now turns to the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November, where approximately 300 events across China during the APEC year will culminate in what organizers hope will be concrete steps toward building a more prosperous and interconnected Asia-Pacific community.