(Shenzhen APEC) Overseas Chinese meet APEC’s “Year of China”: Using overseas Chinese as a bridge to connect the Asia-Pacific

China News Service, Beijing, November 12 (Reporter Men Rui) After 12 years, China once again served as the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). There are many overseas Chinese in the Asia-Pacific region. During the APEC "Year of China", they participated in exchanges and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region in different ways to promote regional connectivity.

In August this year, at the 2026 "Overseas Chinese Help Thousands of Enterprises and Products Go Global" Action (Guangdong) and the Asia-Pacific Economic and Trade Cooperation and Exchange Promotion Event, more than 600 overseas Chinese leaders, overseas Chinese businessmen, and purchaser representatives from 52 countries and regions gathered in Shenzhen to connect resources, expand channels, and jointly explore new opportunities in the Asia-Pacific market. Ding Yanggang, Central Director of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia, said that Malaysia and China are highly complementary in the economic and trade field, and the enterprises of the two countries have close and in-depth cooperation in many fields, bringing a wide range of business opportunities to local Chinese businessmen.

The 12th Overseas Chinese Industry Fair (referred to as the "Overseas Chinese Fair") and the 2026 Asia-Pacific Industrial Cooperation and Overseas Expo held at the same time attracted overseas purchasers from more than 50 countries and regions to participate, with an intended cooperation amount of RMB 2.7 billion. Statistics from the organizer show that the procurement categories and frequency of docking at this Overseas Chinese Fair have reached a record high, with purchasers from APEC member economies accounting for more than 70% of the total.

Cross-border economic and trade exchanges are inseparable from the docking of rules and legal cooperation. In September this year, at the 2026 Chinese Lawyers Conference (Chinese Lawyers Shenzhen Tour) event, the Shenzhen Qianhai Belt and Road Legal Services Federation joined relevant legal and legal organizations of other APEC member economies to launch the Asia-Pacific Legal Services Collaboration Mechanism and signed the "Cross-border Cooperation Memorandum of Legal Service Institutions". This move is intended to respond to the growing demand for cross-border legal services in the Asia-Pacific region and to build a communication and cooperation platform for cross-border enterprises and Chinese-speaking lawyers from various countries.

In addition to economic and trade exchanges, cultural exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region are also increasing. This summer, nearly 40 Chinese teenagers from multiple APEC member economies gathered in Pengcheng to participate in the "Shenzhen Today Youth Flying" Overseas Chinese Youth APEC Summer Camp. From the He Xiangning Art Museum to the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum, from cultural studies to the "APEC Youth Salon", they experienced the atmosphere of Asia-Pacific cooperation during their visits and forged youthful friendships during the exchanges.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Papua New Guinea, and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of friendly exchange city relations between Shenzhen and the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby. At the end of July, the "2026 Charming China (Guangdong) - Lingnan Culture South Taipei" series of activities kicked off at Butuka Academy in Port Moresby. Cantonese opera, Guangcai porcelain, Chaozhou woodcarving and other Lingnan cultures have entered this South Pacific island country, continuing the friendship across mountains and seas through people-to-people exchanges. Ni Yumei, chairman of the Butuka Academy Board of Trustees, said that the two countries have broad potential for cooperation in the fields of culture, education and science and technology. This event has broadened students' horizons and sown the seeds of friendship in their hearts.

On the eve of the opening of the 33rd APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting, the International Symposium on Overseas Chinese and Transnational Economic and Trade Cooperation was held at Shantou University. The seminar was hosted by Shantou University and the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Historical Society. 115 people including domestic and foreign scholars, overseas Chinese affairs experts, and representatives of overseas Chinese businessmen attended the seminar to explore the paths, mechanisms and development prospects for overseas Chinese to participate in Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation in the new era.