Chair’s Statement on the APEC Women and the Economy Forum

On Friday in Shanghai, Huang Xiaowei, Vice President and First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation and Chair of the 2026 APEC Women and the Economy Forum, shared with ministers a statement that reflects the commitments and way forward for APEC to advance women's economic empowerment.

The statement laid out the priorities discussed during the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy and provided policy directions for member economies to support advancing equality and women’s economic empowerment.

Through the statement, member economies exchanged ideas and shared experiences under the theme "Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment to Prosper Together in the Asia-Pacific" through the following key areas:

• Promoting women’s and girl’s full, effective and meaningful participation and leadership in digital transformation

• Upholding women’s meaningful participation and leadership in decision-making and management to ensure they benefit equally from technological advances and sustainable economic growth

• Facilitating economic growth that expands women's employment opportunities and promoting policies that support flexible work arrangements, new forms of employment and work-life balance

• Supporting women's entrepreneurship and their participation and leadership in trade and global value chains

Understanding the importance of quality care systems and family support infrastructure, ministers also encouraged greater recognition of paid and unpaid care and collaboration in caring responsibilities.

Read the 2026 APEC Women and the Economy Forum Chair’s Statement