26 July 2026
Ministers, policymakers, industry
representatives and academics joined the APEC High-Level
Forum on AI on Friday for an open dialogue on the
opportunities and challenges of artificial
intelligence.
Participants said the next challenge for
AI is no longer developing more powerful models but
translating the technology into real-world benefits for
businesses and communities.
Opening the forum,
China’s Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China
Zhuang Rongwen called for closer cooperation among economies
to support artificial intelligence (AI) development that is
open, safe and people-centered.
“Global innovation in
AI has entered an unprecedented period of activity, bringing
major opportunities alongside real challenges,” said Zhuang.
“How to guide AI to develop in a direction that benefits
everyone is a question that requires close cooperation
between APEC economies.”
Throughout the forum,
speakers highlighted that the economic impact of AI will
increasingly depend on its adoption, rather than solely on
advances in the underlying technology.
Discussions
focused on expanding access to AI tools, strengthening
digital infrastructure, building skills and helping
businesses integrate AI into day-to-day operations so that
economies at different stages of development can benefit
from AI.
Business leaders pointed to AI applications
ranging from healthcare access in smaller cities and safer
traffic management to cross-border payment systems for
micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
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“AI is
already improving productivity, accelerating research and
creating new opportunities for businesses across the
Asia-Pacific,” said APEC Secretariat Executive Director
Eduardo Pedrosa in his remarks at the forum.
“While
APEC economies are at different stages of AI development,
that diversity is an opportunity for economies to exchange
experiences and learn from one another. The APEC Artificial
Intelligence Initiative gives economies a practical
framework to share expertise, build capability and advance
responsible AI together,” Pedrosa added.
The initiative
supports cooperation on responsible AI, innovation, capacity
building and skills development, reflecting APEC’s
approach of helping economies harness AI while recognizing
their different levels of readiness.
The forum also
underscored that wider AI adoption will depend on public
trust. Participants called for greater transparency from AI
developers, interoperable governance approaches and
continued cooperation among governments, industry and
researchers to build confidence in the
technology.
“The development and governance of AI
concerns the future of all within the region. All economies
need to seize opportunities and address challenges together,
so that AI becomes a positive force, injecting sustained
momentum into building an Asia-Pacific community,” Zhuang
concluded.
The forum resulted in the issuance of a
statement on promoting AI development, which outlines
priorities for continued regional cooperation on
AI.
