On 16 - 19 May 2026, Ms. Rujikorn Saengchantr, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, in her capacity as Thailand's APEC Senior Official, attended the 2nd APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (APEC SOM2/2026) and related meetings in Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Thailand emphasized the importance of promoting multilateral trade and strengthening supply chain resilience, including cybersecurity, and announced plans to organize a seminar on combating online crime during the 2026 APEC Digital Week in Chengdu this July. Thailand also presented progress on the implementation of the 2026 APEC BCG Award, which has received strong support from APEC member economies, and expressed its readiness to host the 3rd APEC Business Advisory Council Meeting (ABAC3/2026) from 6 - 9 July 2026 in Bangkok.

APEC member economies discussed ways to advance cooperation under the APEC 2026 key priorities, underscoring the importance of the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, strengthening connectivity and supply chain resilience, advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), promoting digital trade and leveraging the benefits of AI, and fostering sustainable and inclusive development. Member economies also exchanged views on new initiatives to address demographic changes and youth engagement, as well as reviewing the implementation of the Aotearoa Plan of Action (APA) toward achieving the Putrajaya Vision 2040. In addition, many economies emphasized APEC’s role in addressing the impacts of the situation in the Middle East on economic growth, energy security, and global food security.

On the sidelines of APEC SOM2/2026, China also hosted the APEC Women and the Economy Ministerial Meeting (WEF) as well as the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (MRT). Throughout 2026, China will further host other sectoral ministerial meetings, including those on digital and AI, food security, energy, SMEs, tourism, and finance.