APEC forestry meeting issues joint call on biodiversity, illegal trade

The 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry concluded Tuesday in Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province, with the adoption of a joint statement calling for stronger enforcement against illegal forest trade and greater biodiversity protection.

The two-day event brought together senior representatives, experts, and scholars from 21 APEC economies and seven international organizations for dialogues on advancing the Global Forest Goals and integrating scientific innovation with the green industry.

Held under the theme "Building a Green Asia‑Pacific, Sharing Ecological Well‑being," the meeting is one of the key events of APEC 2026.

"This year's theme is really about humanity and nature. So if we talk about forest resilience, this is not just about the resilience of human beings, but the resilience of nature, and we depend on nature. My organization is working on community forestry, but we're also working on mangrove restoration and rehabilitation around the region. So, I particularly am interested in collaboration with China's APFNet and also International Mangrove Center," said David Ganz, Executive Director of the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific.

As a key outcome, the joint statement urges APEC economies to promote biodiversity conservation and step up enforcement against illegal forest trade. It also calls for forest governance and sustainable management to be integrated into development plans and policy frameworks, while strengthening regional cooperation on urban forestry and water resource management.

Korea Forest Service Commissioner Park Eun‑sik emphasized the enduring forestry cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea and said the meeting’s theme carries strong regional resonance.

"The Republic of Korea and China have long maintained sound cooperation in the forestry sector. China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program has delivered remarkable results, and its successful experience in combating desertification is well worth sharing. As climate change intensifies, this meeting's theme is both timely and regionally relevant. I am confident that it will inspire all economies to work together to strengthen forest ecological resilience, protect forest resources from degradation, and jointly defend against natural disasters," he said.

APEC forestry meeting issues joint call on biodiversity, illegal trade

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday rejected the politicization of the issue of submarine communication cables, saying such moves will only undermine normal international market rules.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to reports that the United States has expressed concern over China's involvement in laying submarine cables in the Pacific region.

"International submarine cables, as important infrastructure for international civilian use, bear on global network connectivity and the welfare of people of all countries. Politicizing this issue and turning it into a security one will only disrupt normal international market rules, threaten global digital connectivity and cybersecurity, and serve no one’s interest. China always supports international cooperation on submarine cables under the principles of fairness, justice, equality and inclusiveness, and stands ready to work actively with the rest of the world to promote the building and protection of submarine cables and other global information infrastructure," Lin said.

China rejects politicizing issue of submarine cables