12th APEC Transportation Ministers’ Meeting Joint Statement

September 22, 2026

Beijing, People’s Republic of China

1. We, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Transportation, attended the 12th APEC Transportation Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing, China, on September 22, 2026, to discuss emerging trends under the theme “Collaboration and Innovation: Shaping a Better Future for Transportation in the Asia-Pacific Region.”

2. Acknowledging 2026 APEC theme of “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together” and three priorities of “Openness, Innovation, and Cooperation”, we encourage efforts to strengthen practical cooperation in the transport sector, guided by our commitment to an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, as set forth in the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040.

3. We underscore the critical role that transportation plays in economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region by facilitating the movement of goods and people, and the indispensable function of international transport links in regional connectivity. We further emphasize that infrastructure and the use of modern technologies in the transport sector contributes to the viability and integrity of supply chains globally for passengers and cargo, through air and maritime links, waterway, highway and rail networks, and intermodal transportation. In this regard, we encourage all APEC member economies to work together to advance innovation in the transport sector, enhance regional connectivity, and strengthen supply chain resilience.

4. To address shared challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, we encourage economies to accelerate the modernization, upgrading and digital transformation of transport infrastructure. We also encourage cooperation on secure digital solutions to improve urban and rural transportation. In this regard, we encourage cooperation by sharing relevant experiences and best practices to improve transportation safety, efficiency, accessibility, and resilience.

5. Recognizing the increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in transportation, we encourage member economies to accelerate innovation in a secure manner, including in autonomous transportation, and to unlock technology’s benefits for the transport sector.

6. Recognizing the contribution of connectivity in promoting the prosperity of our region, including efforts aligned with the APEC Connectivity Blueprint (2015-2025) (ACB), we encourage member economies to further advance connectivity cooperation, taking into account the findings and recommendations from the ACB’s final review. We also welcome APEC’s continued efforts to strengthen infrastructure links, enhance transport connectivity, facilitate cross-border transportation, and strengthen supply chain security and resilience among APEC economies, while considering transportation’s role in facilitating the transition from the informal to formal economy.

7. We acknowledge the outcomes and the work currently being undertaken by the APEC Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) and welcome its structural reform, including the establishment of the Expert Group on Transportation Research (EGTR), making it more effective in responding to emerging transportation challenges APEC economies face. We urge economies to deepen their participation in the work of the TPTWG, to promote connectivity, safety and innovation in the transport sector.

8. Finally, we thank China for hosting the 12th APEC Transportation Ministers’ Meeting, and look forward to continuing practical, meaningful and substantial cooperation within the framework of the TPTWG and to convening our next Ministers’ Meeting in due course.