{"id":80967,"date":"2026-05-19T20:54:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T03:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=80967"},"modified":"2026-05-19T20:54:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T03:54:22","slug":"regional-cooperation-efforts-focus-on-delivering-practical-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=80967","title":{"rendered":"Regional Cooperation Efforts Focus on Delivering Practical Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Issued by the APEC SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation<\/em><\/p>\n

Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, 20 May 2026<\/em>Ahead of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting taking place on 22-23 May, member economies\u00a0met\u00a0to review how the forum\u2019s economic and technical cooperation agenda deliver relevant and targeted impact to the region.<\/p>\n

Known within APEC as ECOTECH, economic and technical cooperation focuses on strengthening economies\u2019 capacity to grow, adapt and participate more fully in regional economic integration through cooperation on areas such as digitalization, skills development, energy, healthcare and inclusive growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cEconomic and technical cooperation is one of the major pillars of APEC, with the\u00a0SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and its sub-fora playing a central role in ensuring that our Leaders\u2019 and Ministers\u2019 commitments and initiatives translate into tangible benefits that improve people\u2019s lives across the Asia-Pacific region,\u201d said Tran Bao Ngoc, Chair of the SCE.<\/p>\n

During the meeting in Shanghai last week, economies reviewed progress under the\u00a0Aotearoa Plan of Action<\/strong><\/a>, which guides APEC\u2019s work to achieve the\u00a0Putrajaya Vision 2040<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0goals of an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community.<\/p>\n

Senior officials discussed the implementation of the Lima Roadmap to Promote the Transition to the Formal and Global Economies, which aims to support informal workers and small businesses in entering the formal economy. Economies shared examples on how digital platforms and walk-in service centers are helping informal workers register their businesses, access training opportunities and connect with financial services.<\/p>\n

The meeting also examined how APEC economies are responding to demographic changes, including aging populations and shifting labor market needs. Senior officials discussed how artificial intelligence (AI), digital tools and skills development are being used to help workers adapt to changing industries while supporting older populations to remain active and contribute to the economy.<\/p>\n

Members also discussed how AI is being deployed to address the growing pressures that aging populations are placing on healthcare systems across the region, including teleconsultations for the elderly in urban and rural areas.<\/p>\n

With digital transformation increasingly affecting sectors ranging from education and healthcare to labor and public services, senior officials underscored the importance of expanding digital infrastructure, strengthening workforce skills and ensuring underrepresented groups are not left behind in the digital economy.<\/p>\n

Updates from APEC working groups also highlighted cooperation underway across various areas including women\u2019s economic empowerment and the application of AI in the energy sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe progress made across various working groups demonstrates how initiatives like the Lima Roadmap are progressively incorporated into APEC\u2019s policy structure and effectively implemented, contributing to the region\u2019s economic growth and development,\u201d Tran concluded.<\/p>\n

This year also marks the five-year review of the Aotearoa Plan of Action, providing economies an opportunity to assess how APEC\u2019s economic and technical cooperation agenda can remain relevant and responsive to the region\u2019s evolving economic, technological and social challenges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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