Chinese President Xi Jinping said on the 1st that the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting will be held in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in November next year.
According to Xinhua News Agency that day, Xi, speaking at the second session on the closing day of the APEC summit held at the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center, said, "Countries have agreed to come together to Shenzhen next year," adding, "I look forward to discussing the grand plans for Asia-Pacific development and creating a better tomorrow for the region."
At the event, Xi introduced Shenzhen as a city on the Pacific coast that has developed from a small fishing village into a modern international city in just a few decades, calling it "a miracle in the history of world development created by the Chinese people."
Xi said, "APEC is the most important economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific," adding, "Building an Asia-Pacific community is a path that must be taken for the region's long-term development and prosperity and is what all countries desire together." He continued, "China wants to use (next year's APEC summit) as an opportunity to join hands with all countries to build an Asia-Pacific community, promote regional growth and prosperity, and step up practical cooperation such as the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)."
Xinhua reported that leaders of member countries expressed strong support for China hosting next year's APEC summit.
Earlier, at the session that day, Xi mentioned cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and proposed, "Let's open a sustainable and better tomorrow together."
Regarding AI cooperation, Xi said, "China has proposed establishing a 'global AI cooperation organization,'" adding, "We want to actively provide AI public goods through cooperation on development strategies and technical standards." He went on to say, "Together with APEC member economies, we want to raise people's AI literacy and bridge the region's digital and smart divides."
Xi also stressed, "Fully implementing the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will promote common prosperity for all the people of the Asia-Pacific," adding, "It is hard to stand when one lifts alone, but easy to move forward when many do it together. China wants to join hands with all countries to build an Asia-Pacific community."