APEC 2026 host China will leverage experience from Shanghai, Beijing summits

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, right, waves alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping at Government Palace in Lima, Peru, Nov. 14, 2024. EPA-Yonhap

China will chair the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2026, marking the third time it has hosted the event. Although the host city has yet to be decided, China’s previous hosting of the forum in Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014 demonstrates its ability to handle major international events requiring political, economic and logistical coordination.

Notably, the 2001 Shanghai APEC summit took place only weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, becoming the first large-scale multilateral meeting to address economic uncertainty and global security concerns in its aftermath. With the theme of “Meeting new challenges in the new century,” China added counterterrorism to the agenda, emphasizing trade liberalization and regional cooperation.

APEC 2001 carried out a wide range of infrastructure upgrades — from airports and hotels to media facilities — to accommodate the thousands of participants. The summit coincided with China’s preparations to join the World Trade Organization, helping to strengthen Shanghai’s status as an emerging global business center.

Thirteen years later, the 2014 summit in Beijing highlighted China’s growing influence in regional and global affairs. The event took place at Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Huairou District of Beijing, around 50 kilometers north of the city center.

This newly built complex featured a circular convention hall, 12 state guest villas and the 21-story Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, which was designed to resemble a scallop to symbolize prosperity.

During the weeklong event, authorities enforced strict security and air quality measures, including factory closures and vehicle restrictions, which resulted in the famous “APEC Blue” skies.

Leaders endorsed the Beijing Roadmap for the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, a plan often seen as China’s response to the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Looking ahead to 2026, China has said it will focus on advancing open trade and sustainable growth under the Putrajaya Vision 2040 framework. The host city has yet to be announced, though Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen in southeastern China and the southern island of Hainan have been mentioned as possible venues.