While the West, according to some observers, is increasingly relying on resolving disputes by force, the Asia-Pacific region, led by China, is pointing in the opposite direction. This year in APEC is dedicated to deepening economic cooperation, digital transformation and sharing innovation.
According to Ivana Cinky, chairman of the District Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in Benešov, journalist and publicist, the world is currently at a crossroads. „While the West is now wracked by serious divisions and is increasingly using force to resolve them, in the East this year is marked by cooperation between nations,“ said Cinka, adding that the Czech media unfortunately overlook this phenomenon.
A topic that deserves more attention, he said, is the ongoing work within the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC). The host country for 2026 is China, which already unveiled the motto of its presidency in Shēnzhōchōn in December 2025: „Building this community for shared prosperity.“ All 21 member states have adopted this vision, according to Cinca.
This year's programme is ambitious and far from being limited to a single summit. „This is not a one-off event,“ Stresses Zinc. Approximately 300 working meetings are planned throughout the year, focusing on three main pillars:
Openness: Promoting free trade, removing barriers and linking different regional trade agreements.
InnovationA: The focus is on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, green technologies and sharing innovation practices.
Global challenges: Working together to tackle climate change, strengthen supply chains and ensure financial stability.
According to Cinka, this framework is not just an empty declaration. Already in the first half of February, over 60 working meetings were held to launch an expert discussion on these topics.
The culmination of the year-long effort will be the traditional summit of top leaders. On 18 and 19 November 2026, the 33rd APEC Leaders' Meeting will take place in Shenzhen, China.
Cinka concludes his essay with an observation that he finds significant: „In the whole grandiose programme there is not a single mention of armaments and preparations for war.“ He said this clearly shows the difference in priorities between the Asia-Pacific region and the current direction of some Western powers.
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