Asia-Pacific Media Forum Champions Open Cooperation in Shenzhen

Summary

The Asia-Pacific Media High-Level Forum convened in Qianhai, Shenzhen, from September 2-5 as a centrepiece of the 2026 APEC China Year. Drawing over 400 delegates from media, think tanks, and government bodies across more than 40 countries and regions, alongside UN agencies and international organisations, the gathering produced the 'Shenzhen Consensus of the Asia-Pacific Media High-Level Forum'. Delegates also established a preparatory committee for the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership, launched the global multimedia programme 'Asia-Pacific Development Stories', and unveiled findings from the 'Asia-Pacific Communication Index' and related think tank reports.

Speakers highlighted openness, innovation, and cooperation: China has introduced zero-tariff policies for 63 countries, with its import scale maintaining second place globally for 17 consecutive years. As a case in point, Qianhai's imports and exports surged 57.2 percent in the first half of the year, and its comprehensive bonded zone now leads the nation in trade volume. Hong Nong, executive director of the Centre for the Study of China-US Relations, illustrated how Shenzhen's open policies attract global talent.

Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of Kazakhstan's Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper, pointed to increasingly close transport links between the two countries. Brak Thavi Amida, under-secretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Information, stressed that openness is vital for building trust between societies and that media must ensure technological progress stays human-centred. Kostas Iconomou, senior vice president of CNN, emphasised that AI applications must adhere to core journalistic principles, including accuracy, editorial responsibility, and transparency.

Sengi, an adviser to Papua New Guinea's National Planning Department, urged media to convert complex development issues into language accessible to ordinary people. Nurul Afida, chief executive of Malaysia's national news agency Bernama, proposed building a shared Asia-Pacific media community. Guests from multiple countries expressed interest in sharing digital transformation experience, countering disinformation, and rejecting protectionism.

Commentary

The open signals from the Qianhai forum during the 2026 APEC China Year deserve careful attention from New Zealand SMEs. China's zero-tariff policy covering 63 countries, with imports ranked second globally for 17 consecutive years, presents a tangible tariff advantage for NZ exporters of dairy, meat, and fruit reliant on the Chinese market. While large cooperatives like Fonterra are deeply embedded in the Chinese market, many smaller brands still grapple with insufficient transmission of tariff benefits and low awareness among end-channel consumers.

Following the upgrade of the NZ-China FTA, most goods already enjoy tariff-free access; the broadening of zero-tariff countries may prompt China to further harmonise import taxes and fees, reducing hidden costs. Meanwhile, the forum's focus on media digitalisation and AI ethics is notable. With the release of the Asia-Pacific Communication Index and the launch of a global communication programme, China is systematically building narrative channels targeting the Asia-Pacific region.

For NZ SMEs, leveraging such platforms could lower marketing costs in reaching Chinese consumers, but they must remain alert to the risks of algorithmic bias and disinformation damaging brand reputation. The proposal to forge a shared Asia-Pacific media community signals that China intends to expand cross-border content distribution and data collaboration. NZ SMEs could gain more timely access to regulatory and consumer trend information through these partnerships, reducing trial costs in unfamiliar markets.

Qianhai's comprehensive bonded zone, which posted trade growth of 57.2 percent in the first half of the year and ranked first nationally, indicates an efficient bonded logistics and customs environment. NZ SMEs eyeing expansion in southern China may wish to evaluate the cost benefits of distributing via Qianhai. Against the backdrop of APEC's supply-chain connectivity agenda, New Zealand businesses should also monitor whether regional rules of origin are further simplified.

Keywords: Asia-Pacific Media High-Level Forum, Qianhai Shenzhen, APEC China Year, open development, innovation cooperation, media cooperation, Shenzhen Consensus, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, shared prosperity

Source: Xinhua News