BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's hosting of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will inject strong momentum into regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, and provide greater certainty, stability and positive energy for global economic growth and international cooperation, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said in an interview with Xinhua.

This year marks the APEC "China Year," with the theme of "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together." China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

"This theme has garnered unanimous support and broad backing from APEC economies," Ma said.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is the highest-level economic cooperation mechanism that enjoys the broadest scope and the most significant influence in the Asia-Pacific region, Ma told Xinhua.

The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held in last October pointed out that the world today is beset with changes and disturbances, with turmoil continuing to mount, unilateralism and protectionism on the rise, and the international economic and trade order facing grave challenges, Ma said.

He further noted that the Asia-Pacific region stands at a crossroads, while international cooperation faces a critical moment of either advancement or regression.

Against this backdrop, China's role as the host of 2026 APEC meeting carries significance that extends far beyond APEC itself, and even beyond the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

As a driver in regional cooperation, a defender of multilateralism, and a major engine of the global economy, China's hosting of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting fully demonstrates its sense of responsibility as a major country, Ma pointed out.

"This will not only inject strong impetus into Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, but also provide greater certainty, stability, and positive momentum for global economic growth and international collaboration," Ma said.

Noting the 2026 APEC "China Year" coincides with the inaugural year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, during which the country will further deepen reforms and expand opening-up, Ma said that as the host of APEC meeting, China will play a leading role in shaping regional economic integration and advancing the development of an Asia-Pacific community.

The vision to build an Asia-Pacific community must be translated into tangible actions, Ma stated, adding that for the 2026 APEC "China Year," openness, innovation and cooperation are three priorities.

"Openness" refers to fostering an open economy, opposing protectionism, and promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, Ma said.

He added that "innovation" means upholding an innovation-driven development model, advancing new quality productive forces, and creating new growth drivers for APEC cooperation.

"Cooperation" is about leveraging the comparative strengths of APEC economies, enhancing policy synergy and experience exchanges to achieve mutual benefit, he added.

"These priorities have received broad endorsement from APEC economies," Ma said.

This year also marks China's third time hosting APEC meeting. Chen Xu, chair of the 2026 APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), said that in 2001 and 2014, China hosted APEC meetings, leaving an indelible mark on APEC's history.

China has actively participated in practical cooperation across various fields under the APEC framework, and joined hands with all parties to foster an open economy in the Asia-Pacific, Chen said in a separate interview with Xinhua.

Chen said that China will host approximately 300 related activities throughout the year, including SOMs and ministerial meetings.

China is holding the first SOM and related meetings in Guangzhou from Feb. 1 to 10.

Chen noted that the SOM serves as the main channel for advancing APEC cooperation and preparing deliverables for the Leaders' Meeting. This year, except for the first one in Guangzhou, SOM meetings will also be held in Shanghai in May and Dalian in August, Chen said.

Chen added that from May to October this year, ten thematic ministerial meetings will be organized by relevant Chinese authorities in places including Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, Hong Kong and Macao.

"These meetings will cover a wide range of fields such as energy, transportation, the digital economy, food security, human resources, trade, finance, tourism, small and medium-sized enterprises, and women's affairs," Chen added.

"Preparations for the 2026 APEC meetings are in full swing, with all tasks progressing smoothly," Chen said.