APEC CEO forum held to explore growth opportunities

The APEC China CEO Forum, a flagship event of the "China Year" of the organization, was held in Beijing on Sunday, bringing together participants to explore opportunities for global economic growth and China's development.

Within the framework of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the forum serves as a platform for dialog and exchange, connecting business leaders with policymakers across the economic, financial, science, and technology sectors.

"We need to stay committed to opening-up, and work together to create new space for Asia-Pacific development, to enhance connectivity and jointly build a new model of Asia-Pacific cooperation, to deepen coordination and jointly shape new strengths in Asia-Pacific innovation," said Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

The forum aims to strengthen engagement and preparations for submitting high-quality recommendations from the business community to the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

"This year, China has really focused on productivity and innovation. So, by taking the lead on these new growth engines, China is really able to put together a consensus on the future direction that we need to take as an organization," said Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat.

The event is also closely aligned with this year's China International Supply Chain Expo, which will open one day after the forum. Business representatives attending the forum will also visit the expo to engage with exhibitors and exchange views on global supply chain cooperation.

Ceremonies worshiping Fuxi, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation, took place simultaneously in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province and in the New Taipei City of China's Taiwan region on Sunday.

It's the 13th consecutive year that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have paid tribute to Fuxi.

Fuxi is widely seen as a key ancestral figure of the entire Chinese nation, and ceremonies honoring him carry on a shared cultural memory, spiritual heritage, and emotional identity.

The annual commemoration of Fuxi has a history of more than 2,000 years. It was listed as a form of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.