The First APEC Senior Officials' Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM1), marking the start of the 2026 APEC "China Year", are being held in Guangzhou from February 1 to February 10.

Delegates from 21 member economies also toured Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, during the meeting.

Lindsay Polume Kutan, a senior research fellow at Papua New Guinea National Research Institute, noted how Guangzhou seamlessly blends its ancient heritage with modern development.