By Sharon Hu, 21st Century Business Herald, SFC

“Currently, APEC economies are confronted with a highly diverse set of challenges that are growing increasingly complex and difficult to resolve. Promoting scientific and technological innovation among APEC members can lower response costs and mitigate risks, ” Hwanil Park, Chair of the APEC PPSTI, told reporters from the 21st Century Business Herald during the First Senior Officials' Meeting and Related Meetings of APEC China 2026.

During the interview, Hwanil Park spoke highly of China's leading position in the field of science, technology and innovation. He said that in cutting-edge technological areas such as artificial intelligence and robotics, China actively advocates openness and collaboration on a global scale, "Drawing on its own experience and expertise, China promotes technological openness and collaboration, setting an excellent example for cooperation within APEC."

PPSTI is a dedicated working group under the APEC framework focused on scientific and technological innovation cooperation. The Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology serves as the domestic coordinating authority for this mechanism, overseeing the advancement of relevant cooperation. In 2026, the theme of the PPSTI mechanism is "Building an Open and Collaborative Innovation Ecosystem to Empower Resilient Growth in the Asia-Pacific".