Volunteers of all ages serving in China's Hong Kong competition region of the 15th National Games are delivering professional, enthusiastic services, conveying warmth and support while helping the event run smoothly.
The Games is taking place across Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Macao Special Administrative Region from Nov 9 to 21, marking the first time that three Chinese regions are co-hosting the country's highest-level and largest national multi-sport event.
Hong Kong, which is hosting the Games for the first time, has selected 16,000 volunteers, ranging in age from 16 to 85, to serve the event.
They have contributed their dedication and energy across all aspects of the Games, from guiding spectators and ensuring security to supporting athletes and providing medical assistance.
Among them is 65-year-old Luk Hoi-ho, a retired police officer and a leader of the volunteer team. Luk has been on duty since the Games' preparation stage, starting at 07:00 every morning and remaining at the venue until the day's competitions conclude.
"I'm truly excited because I can see the athletes' eyes sparkle and feel their passion when watching the competitions. It's a shame that we can't take any pictures with them as we don't want to be a distraction for them. We want to be professional volunteers," he said.
At a display board for the volunteers to leave their blessings on sticker notes, Luk also wrote his best wishes for the Games.
"I hope this National Games can help push Hong Kong forward hand in hand with the rest of the Greater Bay Area and further integrate Hong Kong into the great motherland, so that it can contribute more to the advancement of national rejuvenation. Seeing our athletes here and witnessing such a large-scale event, I couldn't help but write down my wish," he said.
Younger volunteers also expressed excitement for the opportunity to contribute to a the Games.
"It's the first time for me to take part in such a major event. I am representing all the young students from both Hong Kong and the mainland," said a young volunteer Chow Kwun-nam.
"Being part of the National Games is very exciting for all of us in Hong Kong. Taking part in such a top-level sporting event allows us to make our own contribution," said Lee Chun, another young volunteer.
Hong Kong volunteers bring passion, warmth to 15th National Games
Hong Kong volunteers bring passion, warmth to 15th National Games
Hong Kong volunteers bring passion, warmth to 15th National Games
The 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting will be held from May 22-23 in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, with preliminary consultations and seminars kicking off on Monday.
Multiple consultations have commenced, including discussions on the joint statement to be issued at the meeting and ways to promote cooperation in digital trade.
Additionally, the "Big Market for All: Export to China" Suzhou special event and the Suzhou products promotion event opened Monday.
Experts emphasized that the minister's meeting will play a timely role in advancing regional economic integration and tackling emerging trade challenges through deeper cooperation in digital and green sectors.
"APEC is the highest-level and most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. On the 20th anniversary of the vision for a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), the 2026 Suzhou APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting will play a positive role in safeguarding the multilateral trading system, stabilizing Asia-Pacific cooperation, and leading global open development, countering the increasingly intensifying wave of trade protectionism," said Yuan Qian, deputy director of the trade and investment research division of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, which is under the administration of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"At the same time, as a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation accelerates, this meeting takes cooperation in emerging areas such as digital and green as important content, better aligning with the trend of global technological innovation and development, countering global economic growth pressures, and opening up new spaces for regional cooperation and development," the expert added.
Terms such as digital economy, electronic bills of lading, and green supply chains appear frequently in the agenda of the APEC trade ministers' meeting.
"Although electronic bills of lading may seem small, their impact on international trade is very critical. They can improve customs clearance efficiency and reduce customs clearance costs. If promoted, it will not only affect these developed economies and large traders, but more importantly, it will significantly enhance the ability of some small and medium-sized economies and some developing countries to participate in international trade and improve their trade efficiency," said Zhou Mi, deputy director of the Institute of American and Oceania, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is under the administration of the Ministry of Commerce.
This year, a key topic of the meeting is the digital economy.
"In the past, people thought the digital economy was an option; now it has become a must. Because having advantages in digital economy development means having greater advantages in international trade. They (member economies) have seen some of China's practices and approaches in the digital economy field and hope to use such a platform to further improve their own technology and strengthen coordination with China," said Zhou.
Founded in 1989, the APEC is the highest-level, broadest and most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. About 700 representatives from 21 APEC economies and international organizations will gather in Jiangsu for the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting.
Preliminary consultations begin for APEC trade ministers' meeting
