APEC finance ministers' meeting closes in Hong Kong with joint statement and reports
In short
The 33rd APEC finance ministers' meeting closed in Hong Kong on 21 October, chaired by China's Finance Minister Lan Fo'an (蓝佛安). Delegates approved a 2026 joint statement and a policy statement on digital infrastructure financing, Xinhua and China News Service reported.
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The 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) finance ministers' meeting closed in Hong Kong on 21 October, Xinhua and China News Service reported. Yicai also reported the closing in Hong Kong and said it produced a series of practical outcomes. Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo'an (蓝佛安) chaired the meeting and led the Chinese delegation, according to Xinhua. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Xinhua said more than 300 representatives of APEC member economies, APEC observers and international organisations took part. The meeting focused on the APEC China Year theme of building an Asia-Pacific community and promoting common prosperity. Topics were the global and regional macroeconomic and financial situation, fiscal policy supporting people's livelihoods, digital infrastructure financing, inclusive finance tailored to local conditions, and exchange among young finance professionals. Xinhua added that a closed-door ministers' session and a working lunch with Asia-Pacific business representatives were held beforehand, on promoting growth in a changing world and mobilising private capital for digital infrastructure. [ 1 ]
The meeting approved the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers' Joint Statement and the Policy Statement on Digital Infrastructure Financing in the Asia-Pacific Region. It also produced a report on fiscal policy for supporting people's livelihoods and investing in people, and a compendium of inclusive finance innovation cases. Xinhua said the meeting agreed to continue youth finance talent exchange and cooperation, while China News Service said the parties supported in principle further capacity building and exchange and that the project, launched and hosted by China, was summed up. [ 1 , 2 ]
At the press conference, Lan said the meeting had reached a series of practical outcomes and was a complete success, according to China News Service. He said it deepened consensus in three areas: stronger macroeconomic policy coordination, including the potential of artificial intelligence and other new technologies; practical cooperation in finance; and deeper regional integration towards an Asia-Pacific community. [ 2 ]
On specific topics, China News Service reported that participants stressed that supporting livelihoods and investing in people helps household consumption, domestic demand and productivity, while fiscal discipline and sustainability must also be strengthened. On digital infrastructure, the public sector should focus on a favourable policy and regulatory environment, supporting private-sector funding and innovative financing, with multilateral development banks playing a catalytic role. On inclusive finance, participants said services should meet the varied needs of individuals, households and especially small and micro businesses. [ 2 ]
Xinhua reported Lan as saying that parties should implement the consensus of the APEC leaders' informal meeting, uphold multilateralism and deepen practical finance cooperation. He also described China's economic trend and said China would pursue high-quality development, expand domestic demand and widen high-level opening up. China News Service quoted him saying China would work with others to implement the consensus and contribute to the leaders' informal meeting in November. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The documents present the meeting as setting the direction for finance cooperation among Asia-Pacific economies. Lan said China would work with the other parties on the consensus reached, as a contribution to the leaders' informal meeting due in November.
Key facts
- The 33rd APEC finance ministers' meeting closed in Hong Kong on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo'an (蓝佛安) chaired the meeting and led the Chinese delegation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- More than 300 representatives of APEC member economies, APEC observers and international organisations attended. [ 1 ]
- The meeting approved the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers' Joint Statement and the Policy Statement on Digital Infrastructure Financing in the Asia-Pacific Region. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Two further documents were produced: a report on fiscal policy supporting people's livelihoods and investing in people, and a compendium of financial inclusion innovation cases. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lan said China would help make a positive contribution to the leaders' informal meeting in November. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What concrete commitments or figures lie behind the "practical outcomes". The documents name the statements and reports but do not give their detailed contents or any numbers.
- Whether the meeting's success is assessed the same way outside the host side. Lan's assessment that the meeting was a complete success comes from the chair at the press conference; no other participant is quoted.