APEC adopts regional AI agenda for connectivity, skills and trust
Under the APEC AI plan, member economies will promote AI literacy, investment and locally tailored technologies.
Asia-Pacific ministers have adopted a regional agenda on AI, digital connectivity, workforce skills and online safety, positioning AI as part of a broader strategy for economic development and digital resilience across APEC economies.
Outlined in the 2026 Digital and AI Ministerial Statement, the APEC AI plan promotes the responsible adoption of AI across sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture and public services.
Ministers also called for secure, affordable and reliable internet access, with greater attention to rural, remote and underserved communities. Cooperation will cover next-generation networks, satellite resources, cross-border data flows and resilient digital infrastructure, while encouraging member economies to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt affordable, locally relevant AI tools tailored to regional languages and economic conditions.
Skills development forms another pillar of the plan. Ministers supported expanding digital education, vocational training, public awareness programmes and AI literacy, including for policymakers. Voluntary knowledge-sharing and technical assistance are intended to help economies with fewer resources build AI capabilities.
The statement also highlights growing risks from data breaches, online scams and the misuse of emerging technologies. Member economies were encouraged to strengthen cooperation with industry, civil society and technical organisations on cybersecurity, privacy, supply-chain resilience and child protection.
It also calls on technology companies to improve accountability, supports trusted open-source AI projects with appropriate security safeguards, and emphasises respect for data protection and intellectual property rights.
Investment in connectivity, energy infrastructure and start-ups is expected to support implementation of the plan, particularly by improving smaller businesses’ access to finance and digital technologies.
The Chengdu Statement also advances the wider APEC Artificial Intelligence Initiative 2026–2030, with ministers scheduled to meet again in Vietnam in 2027.
Why does it matter?
The Chengdu Statement reflects a growing recognition that successful AI adoption depends on more than developing advanced technologies. By linking AI with connectivity, digital skills, cybersecurity and support for smaller businesses, APEC presents AI as part of a wider economic and development agenda rather than a standalone technology policy.
Although the commitments are voluntary, the framework provides a common regional reference point for AI governance across economies with different levels of digital development. Its longer-term significance will depend on whether cooperation translates into practical improvements in infrastructure, skills, responsible AI deployment and digital inclusion.
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