China Hosts APEC for the Third Time: Why Shenzhen Becomes the Host City?

President Xi Jinping dropped the news at the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea: China steps up to host the forum in Shenzhen next year—its third time after Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.

President Xi Jinping locks in Shenzhen for China's third APEC triumph, straight from Gyeongju's podium.

Official announcement confirms the news, spotlighting Shenzhen as the perfect stage to flaunt China's reform wins and modernization strides to the world. Why does it matter? Because Shenzhen's story—backed by decades of growth data—proves how China turns this border city into breakthroughs, fueling Asia-Pacific ties with real, verifiable progress.

Shenzhen packs China's reform and opening-up into one explosive package. Official records show it ballooned from a sleepy border outpost into a buzzing global city in just over 40 years, defying skeptics with sheer economic output.

Shenzhen's rise: Proof of China's reform magic in 40 wild years.

Xu Liping, researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy, nails it: "Shenzhen's open culture aligns seamlessly with APEC's ethos." This pick underscores China's modernization in action, as census and GDP stats make clear, and it'll spotlight those gains to the region, pumping fresh energy into cooperation.

Shenzhen's Innovation Edge

Dig into Shenzhen's bones, and innovation screams loudest—mirroring APEC's own priorities, per the forum's charter docs. The city ramps up as a global tech powerhouse, birthing behemoths like Huawei, Tencent, and BYD, with patent filings topping China's charts for 21 straight years, as World Intellectual Property Organization data confirms. R&D spending? It ranks elite worldwide, cementing the "City of Innovation" label through hard metrics, not hype.

Shenzhen's innovation fire powers APEC's future playbook.

China pushes new quality productive forces, as outlined in national policy papers, letting innovation flow globally to supercharge Asia-Pacific's digital, smart, and green shifts. Xu Liping cuts through: "APEC emphasizes innovative growth, and Shenzhen's explorations in cutting-edge fields will offer valuable experiences for the Asia-Pacific's economic transformation and upgrading." Hosting here, per event blueprints, builds new engines for the region—tangible advantages rooted in Shenzhen's track record.

Venue Built for Big Leagues

Shenzhen's no rookie at APEC gigs. It's run the Business Advisory Council SME Forum for five years in a row, stacking organizational know-how. Mainland financial commentator Liu Xiaobo shares intel: the summit might hit the Futian Xiangmihu New Financial Centre, home to the under-construction Shenzhen International Exchange Centre (aka Xiangmihu International Conference Centre). Billed as a "world-class reception room" for leader summits and top forums, its main build wraps by late 2025, per construction permits.

Xiangmihu Centre: Shenzhen's summit-ready global stage takes shape.

This beast clocks 450,000 square meters, packing a 50-square-meter main hall, 380-square-meter banquet space, and 60-odd meeting rooms. It handles over 10,000 people at once with smart systems, AR guides, metaverse setups.

Liu Xiaobo, Chinese Mainland’s financial commentator, tips Futian’s Xiangmihu New Financial Centre for Shenzhen's APEC showdown.

Trace APEC's China stops—from Shanghai and Beijing to Shenzhen—and you see the pulse of its global economic weave, echoed in trade volume surges over the years. Link them on a map, and boom: a massive triangle of growth poles—the Yangtze River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area—driving the economy, as national development plans map out.

Ian Fok, CEO of the Henry Fok Group, calls Shenzhen's APEC slot "very good news" for Hong Kong. He puts it plain: they're "close to the water tower first," set to snag spillover perks. Delegates are likely routing through Hong Kong, and that amps up global eyes on the city, sparking exchanges and ties, Fok told the media.

Fok backs Shenzhen's chops fully, citing its tech edge, global links, and transport ease—proven by infrastructure stats and connectivity rankings. This setup arms it to nail a top-tier conference, no question.

Mao Paishou

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Forget what you thought you knew—global opinion is swinging fast. The Economist’s latest survey lands like a jolt across Western capitals, with its blunt verdict: China’s cultural clout, economic horsepower, and diplomatic finesse are soaring. The United States, meanwhile, finds itself tripping over Trump-era policy stumbles. Suddenly, the world stage isn’t a one-man show. China is catching up—fast.

The Economist calls the spike in support for China “startling”. Global Times isn’t buying it. For years, Western media stuck to the storyline—China’s rise must trigger anxiety. But people aren’t buying fear-mongering anymore. The data tells a different story. Pragmatism wins. China’s steady growth and consistent, peaceful diplomacy are finding friends everywhere. It’s not magic; it’s momentum. The more China delivers—on trade, stability, real benefits—the more the world leans in.

China’s support explodes in global poll, leaving the US playing catch-up.

Breadth, Depth, and Changing Minds

Follow the numbers. In a massive poll by the Economist and GlobeScan—32,000 voices, 32 countries, July to September 2025—China’s support rockets 11 points to 33%. The United States slumps to 46%, shy of a majority anywhere. Nearly 40% call China’s global footprint “positive”—a jump from Trump’s first term. Just ask the next generation.

Gen Z isn’t sitting on the fence—they’re almost split. 41% support the United States, 39% champion China. That’s neck and neck. Flip to the over-65 crowd and the gap yawns wide—America still gets the nod by thirty points. 

Look south—the warmth toward China spikes in developing nations. Young people everywhere are more open, more enthusiastic. Recent research covering 46 countries had sixty percent rating China “positive.” The global South and the global youth are jumping on the China train, and it’s not a coincidence—it’s payoff for years of tangible benefits.

Indonesia’s high-speed bullet—Jakarta–Bandung Rail powers new opportunities.

China Delivers Real Results

The startling swing may be “partly thanks to China’s Belt and Road Initiative”, which has, in the past 10 years, “seen tens of billions of dollars invested” in regions like Africa and the Middle East.

Infrastructure isn’t a talking point—it’s a revolution. Belt and Road, global initiatives, iconic mega-projects like the China-Laos Railway, Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail, Budapest–Belgrade Railway, and the Port of Piraeus don’t just flash headlines. They deliver: 420,000 new jobs, nearly 40 million people escaping poverty. China is laying track and lifting economies—and the world is noticing.

Labubu: China’s soft power icon storms abroad, collecting fans everywhere.

The Youth Go "Cool China"

Young people crave what’s fresh—and China’s got cool factor now. Innovation, culture, and brands like Labubu, TikTok, and Black Myth: Wukong are racking up fans overseas. Foreigners aren’t just watching—they’re coming, eager to engage. This vibrant, two-way flow builds new bridges, solidifying China's reputation as a destination, not just a headline.

TikTok: The youth can’t get enough, and China leads the digital dance.

China’s style of governance, with results for all to see, has smashed the old myth that “to modernize means to Westernize.” Countries are waking up—there’s more than one road to prosperity, and China’s path offers a real alternative for developing nations craving independence.

Global Times pulls no punches: “Unlike the rise of some major powers in history that came with war and expansion, China has always adhered to the principle of peaceful development.” In messy times, China’s steady hand—UN peacekeeping, hot-spot negotiations, and regional dialogue—makes it the stabilizing force the world is looking for.

China rejects hegemonic power tactics and calls for win–win deals with everyone. Rich nations get calls for mutual respect; developing countries get partnership with no strings attached. Dignity and trust aren’t just wordplays—they’re laid down as the new rules. As the Global Times concluded: “This approach has allowed more nations to feel respected and treated as equals, and many, especially those in the Global South, see China as a trustworthy partner”.