ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said he hopes all 11 ASEAN member states will one day join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), stressing the need to ensure no Southeast Asian economy is left behind in the world’s primary engine of economic growth.
The remarks came before the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, which is set to kick off in south China's Shenzhen from Nov 18 to 19, under the theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together."
So far, seven of ASEAN's 11 members, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam hold seats in APEC, which gathers 21 economies from the Asia-Pacific region, leaving Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste outside the fold.
"Seven of our eleven member States are also members of APEC, But I hope one day that all of our member states will be members of APEC as well. The prosperity agenda, the economic issues are going to be high on the agenda. I think this is really the concerns and the priorities of member states," Kao said in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). Kao pointed to open trade and technological innovation as the essential drivers needed to turn regional growth into shared prosperity. "Asia-Pacific is the growth center of the global economy. No doubt about that. I think we've been discussing this, but we have to pursue something that has been always there and that is openness. We had to keep trade open. And of course, innovation, we talk about innovation, there are many dimensions to talk about, innovation in technology was talked about, creativity, the technology innovation. And that's going to be one of the key drivers of the current economy and the future economy, it's going to be technology. And this is something that all of us have been watching very closely. And this is fundamental, of course, also linked to our issue. We talk about openness, innovation. And of course, also we talk about how do we build shared prosperity. And innovation, I think we have to look at this how we can make sure that the growing economy will benefit all," he said.
ASEAN chief hopes all 11 member states will eventually join APEC
Huaqiangbei, the well-known electronics hub in south China's Shenzhen City, has turned its public spaces into immersive tech playgrounds, giving tech-savvy visitors a close-up look at the newest innovations.
The subdistrict is home to an extraordinary variety of electronics commerce. With over 115,000 registered businesses operating in Huaqiangbei, buyers can source more than a million kinds of parts and finished products.
The area also showcases the possibilities of emerging technologies for the public. On the Huaqiangbei pedestrian street, a robot band recently performed a stunning musical set, drawing many spectators.
"I really like it a lot and they have like several kinds of robots. I wonder how they will be in a year," said a visitor from Colombia who stopped to watch the robot band perform.
The performance stage was set up by Huaqiangbei as a platform to demonstrate interesting digital, electronic and AI products and applications. Seven such stages and exhibition spaces are spread along the 930-meter pedestrian street.
"We have opened up public spaces in our district free of charge to cutting-edge companies working in areas such as AI hardware, brain-computer interfaces and customized AI solutions to showcase their products. Huaqiangbei commercial area attracts more than 850,000 visitors a day on average, which provides an excellent platform for companies to present their latest technologies, products and business models to global buyers and visitors," said Xu Jiyue, a local official.
"All the products we are showcasing in our pavilion are AI-related smart devices, and they are all released within the past six months," said Zhang Jibin, head of the Huaqiangbei Global AI Application Scenario Center.
Long known for bulk electronic components and low-cost gadgets, Huaqiangbei's merchandise mix has now shifted toward a growing range of smart consumer goods.
"We have noticed a gradual shift in what customers are looking for. They are no longer just coming in for a screen protector or a new phone battery. Instead, they come seeking cutting-edge, innovative products that truly represent Shenzhen," said Lv Lichao, head of the Huaqiangbei global brain-computer interface industrial application demonstration center.
Shenzhen's electronics hub demonstrate latest technologies to tech-savvy visitors
