Urging Shi Zhenrong to serve as APEC leader representative, the Presidential Office emphasized that "it has nothing to do with one China": calling on China to ensure equality and dignity

President Lai Qingde has invited Acer Group founder and honorary chairman Shi Zhenrong (pictured) to attend this APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting as a representative. (File photo)

The 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) will be held in Shenzhen, China, from November 18 to 19. Presidential Office spokesperson Guo Yahui said today that President Lai Ching-te has invited Shi Zhenrong, founder and honorary chairman of Acer Group, to attend this APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting as a representative.

Guo Yahui pointed out that according to the membership memorandum signed in 1991, as a formal member of APEC, my country continues to participate in various conference affairs on an equal basis. This is APEC practice and has nothing to do with the so-called "one-China principle."

Kuo Yahui said that Shi Zhenrong served as my country's leader representative at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in Sydney, Australia in 2007. He has rich experience in international exchanges and is an important representative of Taiwan's technology industry development and brand internationalization. He has successfully promoted Taiwan's own brands to the global market and made outstanding contributions to enhancing the development of Taiwan's information industry and international competitiveness. Representative Shi has long been acquainted with the pulse of global technology and has an in-depth understanding of topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital economy and technological innovation that APEC has focused on in recent years.

Kuo Yahui said that President Lai hopes to leverage Representative Shi's international vision and industrial expertise to lead the delegation to actively participate in the meeting, achieve the tasks assigned by the president, and allow Taiwan's views and experience to contribute to global economic and trade development. Therefore, he decided to urge Representative Shi to attend the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

Finally, Guo Yahui emphasized that my country has long participated in APEC and made concrete contributions to the development of Asia-Pacific economic and trade. In view that APEC economies have reached a consensus on "equal participation of all members" many times, we hope that China will fulfill its hosting responsibilities and written guarantees to ensure that our delegation can participate in various meetings on the premise of equality, dignity and safety.