APEC business leaders adopt policy proposals ahead of November meeting

The third meeting of the 2026 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) concluded in Bangkok on Thursday, adopting a package of policy recommendations to be submitted to APEC leaders ahead of their informal meeting in November.

More than 200 ABAC members, alternate members and experts from APEC's 21 member economies attended the four-day meeting, discussing regional economic integration, sustainable development, digital innovation and connectivity. 

Participants approved a report to APEC leaders, six letters to ministers responsible for finance, energy, small and medium-sized enterprises, digital affairs, food and transportation, as well as three statements on quantum technology, healthcare and mining.

Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), addressed the closing plenary.

The CCPIT led a Chinese business delegation to Thailand. During the meeting, Chinese policy proposals on infrastructure and energy connectivity, cross-border QR code payments, zero-carbon transport, marine energy cooperation, sustainable agriculture, artificial intelligence and supply chain cooperation were incorporated into the meeting's outcome documents.

The CCPIT also jointly proposed an Asia-Pacific supply chain cooperation platform with US representatives and jointly advanced an APEC AI+ casebook initiative with Canada, aiming to strengthen regional cooperation on supply chains and emerging technologies.

(Cover via VCG)