Expert Talk at BFA 2026 | APEC Executive Director highlights Hainan Free Trade Port and regional cooperation

During the 2026 Boao Forum for Asia, Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, commended Hainan’s initiatives in establishing its free trade port, highlighting measures to reduce tax rates, implement paperless procedures, and digitize the entire trade process. He described the effort as “an experiment to explore how such measures can facilitate trade for China and the broader Asia-Pacific region,” stressing the importance of streamlining trade processes, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, and identifying effective practices that could potentially be adopted elsewhere.

As the head of APEC’s Secretariat, Pedrosa emphasized the organization’s unique role as a platform enabling global and regional leaders to engage in frank discussions within a formal framework, without the constraints of binding agreements or treaties. Commenting on China’s hosting of APEC this year, he underscored a strategic focus on openness, encouraging continued efforts toward economic integration, and highlighted opportunities for APEC to support the WTO and advance initiatives that strengthen the multilateral trade system.