On July 23, the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting convened in Chengdu, focusing on "Digital Technologies and AI for the Empowerment of an Asia-Pacific Community". During the meeting, participants highlighted three key themes.

The event venue

The first theme: Open cooperation

Je Myung Ryu, 2nd Vice Minister at the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), stated that countries possess distinct strengths and weaknesses in artificial intelligence and must advance technology to higher levels through comprehensive, multi-layered collaboration. Jiang Mingtao, Director of the National Industrial Information Security Development Research Center, noted that regional cooperation has evolved from basic connectivity—such as laying fiber-optic cables and establishing networks—to "digital and intelligent empowerment across hundreds of industries and thousands of sectors", urging coordinated development of infrastructure including 5G, gigabit optical networks, and data centers. Zhao Wenqiao, deputy head of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, emphasized strengthening international industrial collaboration and advancing intelligent transformation across all industrial elements to revitalize "Made in Sichuan".

The second theme: Inclusive sharing

Eduardo Pedrosa, the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, argued that the crux of technological advancement lies in practical application that serves both industry and public welfare, and that dialogue platforms should be leveraged to narrow the digital divide and ensure broad public access to technological benefits. Shi Qinghua, Vice President of Baidu, said enterprises are driving AI deeper into transportation, energy, manufacturing, and government services, integrating it into production processes. Zhao Chung'an, Director of Chengdu's Economy and Informatization Bureau, introduced Chengdu's "AI+" initiative, which aims to develop 20 benchmark application scenarios to unlock AI's empowering potential in industry, culture, healthcare, and other fields.

The third theme: Security and controllability

Participants noted that while rapid advances in artificial intelligence present significant opportunities, they also entail inherent and derivative risks. Jiang Mingtao stressed that security forms the foundation for both technological innovation and inclusive sharing, as well as a prerequisite for deepening cooperation. He called on all parties to jointly build a secure, reliable, trustworthy, and resilient digital environment to ensure steady and sustainable progress in digital and intelligent empowerment.

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