APEC’s 21 Economies Back Secure Open-Source AI in China-Led Statement

The 21 APEC economies endorsed support for open-source AI with strong security assurance in the Chengdu Statement adopted at the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting on July 23, hosted and chaired by China. China's Industry Minister Li Lecheng said the meeting elevated open source to APEC ministerial cooperation for the first time. The consensus policy statement also calls for investment in connectivity and energy infrastructure, AI training, data protection, and cooperation against scams and deliberate AI misuse.

APEC’s 21 Economies Back Secure Open-Source AI in China-Led Statement - APEC’s 21 economies endorsed support for open-source models and projects using “strong security assurance” across development and deployment. 1 https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/sectoral-ministerial-meetings/telecommunicationsandinformation/2026-apec-digital-and-ai-ministerial-statement - The statement also calls for investment in connectivity and energy infrastructure, wider AI training, data protection and cooperation against scams and deliberate AI misuse. 1 https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/sectoral-ministerial-meetings/telecommunicationsandinformation/2026-apec-digital-and-ai-ministerial-statement - China hosted and chaired the meeting, elevating open source to APEC ministerial cooperation for the first time, according to Industry Minister Li Lecheng. 2 https://wap.miit.gov.cn/xwfb/bldhd/art/2026/art d109e2b6dc4844cc902a1f6f49712f67.html The United States, China and 19 other Asia-Pacific economies have backed government support for open-source artificial intelligence, provided models and projects use strong security safeguards during development and deployment. 1 https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/sectoral-ministerial-meetings/telecommunicationsandinformation/2026-apec-digital-and-ai-ministerial-statement The language appears in the Chengdu Statement adopted at the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting on July 23. It is a consensus policy statement rather than a treaty: the published document contains no individual signatures, enforcement mechanism or definition of “strong security assurance.” 1 https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/sectoral-ministerial-meetings/telecommunicationsandinformation/2026-apec-digital-and-ai-ministerial-statement China puts open source on the ministerial agenda The statement covers all 21 APEC economies: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. 3 https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2026/0724 DMM Its commitments extend beyond open source. Ministers encouraged investment in digital connectivity and energy infrastructure; affordable AI tools for smaller businesses; AI education and technical assistance; resilient communications networks; and information sharing on cybersecurity, data protection, supply-chain resilience, online scams and child safety. 1 https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/sectoral-ministerial-meetings/telecommunicationsandinformation/2026-apec-digital-and-ai-ministerial-statement China shaped the meeting as APEC’s 2026 host. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing opened the gathering, while Industry and Information Technology Minister Li Lecheng chaired it. Li said the meeting raised open source to the level of APEC ministerial cooperation for the first time. China also inserted its host-year priorities — “Openness, Innovation, Cooperation” — into the statement’s framing. 2 https://wap.miit.gov.cn/xwfb/bldhd/art/2026/art d109e2b6dc4844cc902a1f6f49712f67.html The document provides no U.S.-specific rationale, and no event-specific U.S. comment was available in the public materials reviewed. The position is nevertheless consistent with recent White House policy: a June 5 directive called for the national-security enterprise to adapt leading commercial and open-source AI technologies while requiring deployed systems to be robust, controllable and accountable. 4 https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/06/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-signs-historic-directive-on-ai-in-the-national-security-enterprise/ Further sources 1 APEC, “2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Statement,” July 23, 2026. ↗ https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/sectoral-ministerial-meetings/telecommunicationsandinformation/2026-apec-digital-and-ai-ministerial-statement 2 China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, press conference transcr… ↗ https://wap.miit.gov.cn/xwfb/bldhd/art/2026/art d109e2b6dc4844cc902a1f6f49712f67.html 3 APEC, “Ministers Seek Common Ground on AI’s Future in the Asia-Pacific,” includ… ↗ https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2026/0724 DMM 4 The White House, “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Signs Historic Directiv… ↗ https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/06/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-signs-historic-directive-on-ai-in-the-national-security-enterprise/ The stories that matter, in one email. Free — unsubscribe anytime.