APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting wraps up in Hong Kong

The two-day APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in Hong Kong wrapped up today.

At a press conference concluding the meeting, Chinese Minister of Finance Lan Foan, who chaired the talks, delved into key agenda items and wrapped up discussions on four major topics -- fiscal policies to support people's livelihoods, financing of digital infrastructure, promoting inclusive finance tailored to local conditions, and fostering exchanges and cooperation among young finance professionals across APEC.

The Finance Ministers' Meeting is a prelude to the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting set to take place in Shenzhen November 18 and 19.

【Full Transcript】

Good morning, friends from the media!

Welcome to the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting press conference.

So good morning, friends from the media.

Welcome to the press conference for the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting.

The 2026 APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting has just concluded successfully.

Over the past day and a half, finance ministers and representatives

from APEC member economies, as well as heads

of relevant international organizations,

held in-depth exchanges and discussions

on this year's key financial cooperation topics.

Further consolidated cooperation consensus,

achieving positive and pragmatic outcomes.

The 2026 APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting has just concluded successfully.

Over the past one and a half days.

Finance ministers and representatives from APEC member economies,

Together with delegates of international organizations,

held in-depth discussions on this year's priorities.

Of the APEC Finance Ministers' process.

Discussions further strengthened consensus on cooperation

and delivered positive, practical outcomes.

Today we are honored to welcome the Chair

of the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting.

Mr. Lan Fo'an, China's Finance Minister, will brief you on the meeting.

Today's press conference has no Q&A session.

Today,

We are very honored to have the Finance Minister,

who chaired the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting,

to brief the outcome of the meeting.

There will be no Q&A session in today's press conference.

Now I invite Minister Lan Fo'an to speak. Thank you.

Friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!

Over the past few days, Chinese

and foreign media have provided extensive coverage

of this APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting.

As the chair of the meeting,

I extend my heartfelt thanks to you all!

With strong support and joint efforts from all participants.

And with high-quality services ensured by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

This meeting has concluded all agenda items.

Achieving a series of practical outcomes and a complete success.

Here I will briefly introduce the meeting and its outcomes.

Friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Over the past few days,

Chinese and overseas media have extensively covered this APEC Finance Ministers'

Meeting. As chair of this meeting,

I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you.

With strong support and joint efforts from all participants,

and high-quality services from the Hong Kong SAR Government.

The meeting has completed all agenda items and delivered a package

of practical deliverables, achieving full success.

I'd like to briefly introduce the meeting and its deliverables.

The world is undergoing changes unseen in a century at an accelerating pace.

The international situation is marked

by intertwined turbulence and transformation.

Geopolitical conflicts spill over.

World economic growth faces multiple challenges.

Meanwhile,

The new round of technological revolution, including AI, is accelerating.

This brings new opportunities for global development.

APEC, as the main economic cooperation platform in the Asia-Pacific region,

in promoting open cooperation among members,

Has shown greater responsibility

in strengthening macroeconomic policy coordination.

At present, profound changes unseen in the century

Profound changes unseen in the century are accelerating across the world.

The international landscape is intertwined

with volatility and uncertainties.

Spillover effects of geopolitical conflicts are spreading,

and global economic growth faces multiple challenges.

Meanwhile.

As a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation,

represented by artificial intelligence, is forging ahead.

It brings fresh opportunities for global common development.

As a premier economic cooperation platform in the Asia-Pacific,

APEC has demonstrated greater responsibilities in promoting open cooperation

and strengthening macro policy coordination among member economies.

China highly values mutually beneficial cooperation with Asia-Pacific economies.

President Xi Jinping stressed

at the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting last year

the need to deepen cooperation in finance and economics.

Steadily advance regional economic integration.

Following this guidance, since the beginning of this year,

APEC finance channel focuses on APEC China Year.

Building an Asia-Pacific community, promoting shared prosperity.

Successively held APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meetings.

Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meetings,

and workshops on inclusive finance and digital infrastructure.

All parties engaged in in-depth exchanges on global and regional macroeconomic

and financial situations, as well as related key topics.

and reached a series of consensus,

laying a solid foundation for the Finance Ministers' Meeting.

Over the past day and a half of meetings,

all parties engaged in further candid discussions

on key financial and economic topics.

In-depth and constructive exchanges.

China attaches great importance

to mutually beneficial cooperation with Asia-Pacific economies.

At this 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held last year,

President Xi Jinping stressed.

Stressed the need to deepen financial and economic cooperation

and steadily advance regional economic integration.

Following this guidance since the beginning of this year,

the APEC finance ministers process,

Has focused on the theme

of building an Asia-Pacific community to prosper together.

and held the APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting.

the APEC senior finance officials meeting, and seminars

on financial access, opportunity, and digital infrastructure.

All members engaged in in-depth exchanges on global

and regional macroeconomic and financial conditions.

And related priorities.

reaching a set of consensuses,

and laying a solid foundation for the finance ministers meeting.

Of the past day and a half, member economies had candid,

in-depth and constructive exchanges on the priorities of the FMP.

With strong support from all parties,

The meeting endorsed

and released the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers' Joint Statement.

and the Asia-Pacific Digital Infrastructure Financing Policy Statement.

This sets the direction for deeper financial cooperation

among Asia-Pacific economies.

The meeting also produced two specialized outcome documents.

Including support for livelihood development.

A fiscal policy report on investing in people for sustainable growth

in the Asia-Pacific, and a casebook of inclusive finance innovations.

It also summarized APEC youth finance talent exchange programs.

With strong support from all participants,

The meeting adopted and issued the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers' Joint Statement

and the policy statement on enhancing cooperation

on digital infrastructure financing.

Across the APEC region,

setting out directions and guidance for APEC economies

to deepen financial and economic cooperation.

At the same time,

the meeting also formulated two professional documents.

The meeting also formulated two professional documents: a report

on supporting households and investing in human capital.

Fiscal policy considerations for sustaining economic growth in APEC,

and the compendium on financial access and opportunity for all.

We also summarized the work on the APEC Young Financial Talent Program.

Overall.

The meeting deepened consensus among Asia-Pacific parties in three dimensions.

First, strengthen macroeconomic policy communication and coordination.

Jointly address external risks and challenges.

All parties believe

we should strengthen the soundness of our macroeconomic policies.

Further strengthen macroeconomic policy communication and coordination.

Enhance the resilience of fiscal and financial systems.

Better address uncertainties and instabilities in economic growth.

Maintain regional economic and financial stability.

Fully unleash the potential of emerging technologies such as AI

in boosting productivity and fostering new growth drivers.

Inject new momentum into Asia-Pacific economic growth.

First,

Strengthen communication and coordination on macroeconomic policies,

and jointly respond to external risks and challenges.

Our members agreed that we should enhance the soundness

of our macroeconomic policies.

Further strengthen macro policy communication and coordination.

Boost the resilience of fiscal and financial systems.

And financial systems better address uncertainties and destabilizing factors.

Weighing on economic growth

and safeguard regional economic and financial stability. At the same time,

We should fully unlock the potential of emerging technologies,

such as AI to raise productivity and cultivate new growth drivers,

and inject new impetus into Asia-Pacific economic growth.

Second, advance practical cooperation in finance.

Support long-term sustainable development in Asia-Pacific.

This meeting focused on fiscal policies supporting people's livelihoods,

digital infrastructure financing,

and promoting inclusive finance development tailored to local conditions,

Promoting youth finance talent exchange and cooperation.

A series of practical outcomes were achieved.

Respond with more effective policies.

Providing strong support for regional economic development.

All parties emphasized turning these outcomes into concrete actions.

Continuously enhance the vitality of regional economic growth.

Second,

Promote practical financial and economic cooperation to support long-term,

sustainable economic development in the APEC region.

The meeting delivered practical deliverables

on fiscal policies, digital infrastructure financing.

financial access and opportunity for all, and young financial talent dialogue.

It provides strong support for regional economic development

through more effective policy responses.

Our members emphasized

translating relevant deliverables into concrete actions

to continuously boost regional economic growth.

Third, deepen regional integration.

Promote building an Asia-Pacific community.

The meeting widely embraced the shared vision

of deepening Asia-Pacific financial cooperation.

It encouraged more favorable multilateral cooperation

in the Asia-Pacific region.

It stressed the importance of the APEC finance track

as a platform for regional economic and financial cooperation.

They pledged to jointly address various risks and challenges

and promote the building of an Asia-Pacific community.

Third,

advance regional integration and foster an Asia-Pacific community.

The meeting forged broad consensus and vision

on deepening Asia-Pacific financial and economic cooperation.

It encouraged stronger multilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

It underscored the importance of APEC

It serves as a platform for regional economic and financial cooperation,

pledging to jointly tackle various risks and challenges,

and advance the building of the Asia-Pacific community.

Specifically,

First, regarding fiscal policies supporting people's livelihoods,

All parties emphasized supporting livelihood development

through investment in people,

in promoting household consumption,

boosting domestic demand, and enhancing productivity.

At the same time, fiscal discipline must be strengthened,

to ensure fiscal sustainability.

Fiscal policies supporting households stressed the important role

of supporting households and investing

in people in promoting household consumption,

boosting domestic demand and improving productivity.

and improve productivity at the same time,

we need to consolidate fiscal and financial discipline

and ensure fiscal sustainability.

Second, on digital infrastructure financing,

all parties encourage the public sector.

Focus on creating a favorable policy and regulatory environment,

supporting private sector funding and innovative financing.

Encourage multilateral development banks to play a catalytic role,

and ensure project readiness.

Jointly provide financing support for digital infrastructure.

Second, on digital infrastructure.

Financing members encouraged the public sector to focus

on creating a favorable policy and supervision environment.

In a favorable policy and supervision environment, support the private sector

to provide funding and facilitate innovative financing.

Positive financing encouraged multilateral development banks

to play a catalytic role and improve project preparation

to jointly provide financing for digital infrastructure.

Third, regarding inclusive finance,

all parties believe financial services

should suit individuals, households, and businesses.

especially the diverse needs of MSMEs.

They also stressed the importance of sharing experiences

and good practices among APEC member economies.

Third, on financial access and opportunity for all members,

They agreed that financial services should meet the diversified needs

of individuals, households, and enterprises.

especially SMEs.

And stressed the importance of experience

and best practice sharing among APEC economies.

Fourth, regarding youth finance talent exchange and cooperation,

China initiated and hosted the APEC Youth Finance Talent Exchange

and Cooperation Program.

All parties highly recognized the program's implementation results.

All parties support strengthening capacity building

and experience exchange among APEC youth finance talent.

Fourth, on young financial talents dialogue,

China launched and hosted the APEC Young Financial Talent Dialogue.

All members highly recognized this.

The program's effectiveness was recognized, and in principle, support was given

to continue capacity building and experience sharing

among young financial talents.

During the Finance Ministers' Meeting, we also held a closed-door session.

Parties discussed promoting Asia-Pacific economic growth in a changing world.

And reached broad consensus.

We also held a working lunch for finance ministers

and APEC business representatives.

We heard suggestions on mobilizing private capital

to support digital infrastructure.

It achieved good results.

During the finance ministers meeting,

We also held a retreat where participants discussed promoting Asia-

Pacific economic growth in a world in flux and reached broad consensus.

A working luncheon was held between finance ministers

A working luncheon was held between finance ministers

and the APEC Business Advisory Council to hear proposals

on mobilizing private capital to support digital infrastructure.

This achieved good results.

Under the current circumstances,

the APEC finance track achieved these outcomes and consensus.

This highlights the APEC family's spirit of unity

and mutual learning through inclusive cooperation.

I would like to take this opportunity

I sincerely thank all economies that contributed

to this year's APEC finance cooperation mechanism,

international organizations, and partners.

China will work with all parties to implement the key consensus reached.

contributing positively to the informal leaders' meeting in November.

Against the current backdrop,

These practical deliverables from the APEC FMP

Manifest the cooperative spirit of the APEC family,

working together in harmony and embracing inclusiveness and mutual learning.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all economies,

National organizations and partners that have contributed

to this year's APEC Finance Ministers' process.

Work with all member economies to implement the important consensus reached

at this meeting and make positive contributions

to the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

That's all for my briefing. Thank you.