Apec meeting 'achieves results, consensus'

The Apec Finance Ministers Meeting concluded in Hong Kong with the achievement of practical results and consensus on various issues. Lan Foan, the Minister of Finance, reported that the two-day event resulted in the issuance of the 2026 Apec Finance Ministers Joint Statement and a policy statement aimed at enhancing regional cooperation on digital infrastructure financing.

During the press conference, Lan highlighted that the meeting also produced two professional documents and a summary of the work done by a young financial talent program.

The participating economies agreed to strengthen macroeconomic communication and coordination to address external risks and challenges. They emphasized the need to improve the soundness of their macroeconomic policies, further enhance macro policy communication and coordination, boost the resilience of fiscal and financial systems, better tackle uncertainties and destabilizing factors affecting economic growth, and safeguard regional economic and financial stability.

Furthermore, the Apec members agreed to unlock the potential of emerging technologies, such as AI, to boost productivity, cultivate new growth drivers, and drive Asia-Pacific economic growth forward.

In addition to these goals, the meeting promoted practical financial and economic cooperation to support sustainable development in the long term. Apec economies stressed the importance of increasing household spending and domestic demand. During a closed-door session, the ministers discussed the promotion of Asia-Pacific economic growth in a changing world, and heard proposals on mobilizing private capital to support digital infrastructure through a working luncheon.