The 21-member APEC forum will hold its leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19, with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping among those expected to attend. Talks are expected to cover trade, energy security, China-US relations and regional tensions.
Founded in 1989 as a 12-member dialogue effort, APEC has grown into a 21-member economic forum focused on growth, trade and investment. Its members account for about 62% of global GDP and roughly half of global trade. Commitments are non-binding, voluntary and reached by consensus.
China is hosting the summit for the third time, after Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014. Shenzhen is part of the Greater Bay Area, which includes Hong Kong and Macau, and China seeks to establish the region as a global technology and innovation hub.
China has not officially confirmed its attendees, but Trump, Putin and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are expected. Discussions are likely to include energy security, supply chains, tariffs, rare earth supplies and artificial intelligence, as well as China-US relations and tensions involving Japan and the Philippines.
