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In a key year for China as host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2026 Forum, the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) laid out its expectations for the role of the Latin American members of the bloc. Diario Gestión participated in the press conference at the Beijing International Club in the Chinese capital, where the CPDA president specifically referred to the role of Peru, Chile, and Mexico in the agenda of the upcoming forum, marked by discussions on tariffs, trade openness, and digital integration.
Chen Xu, president of CPDA and of the APEC 2026 Senior Officials' Meeting, highlighted that he maintains "intense communications" with his counterparts from Peru, Chile, and Mexico, and expressed his positive impression of these countries' interest in contributing to the success of China's APEC.
According to the diplomat, the three Latin American countries have shown very strong enthusiasm for promoting the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and fostering cooperation in connectivity, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy within the bloc.
"I am sure that the participation and efforts of the Latin American members will contribute to a successful year for China in APEC," he stated.
When asked about Chinese investment in infrastructure in Latin America, Chen Xu emphasized the Port of Chancay, operated by the state-owned Cosco Shipping. For the former ambassador, the megaport will not only strengthen the bilateral relationship between China and Peru but will also have a "greatly significant" impact on Beijing's ties with all of Latin America.
"I have strong confidence that the China-Peru relationship will not only be beneficial for our two peoples but also for China's relationship with Latin America. Our efforts will bear fruit in the coming days," affirmed the former permanent representative of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
At the upcoming APEC in November 2026, in Shenzhen (Guangdong), China will promote three main principles. First, openness: reactivating the dialogue on the FTAAP as a way to counteract protectionism and tariff tensions.
China sees the bloc as a platform to defend an "open and transparent" multilateral trading system.
The second pillar will be cooperation, focused on strengthening physical and digital connectivity among economies. In this regard, the Port of Chancay is highlighted as an emblematic case of infrastructure that integrates logistics chains between Asia and South America.
Finally, the third principle is innovation, placing artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and the green transition on the agenda as new engines of growth in the Asia-Pacific.
