 |  |
APEC Health Officials Chart 2026 Health Priorities
Issued by the APEC Health Working GroupAs rapid population aging, slower workforce growth and rising healthcare costs increasingly weigh on productivity, fiscal sustainability and long-term growth prospects across the region, health officials sharpened their focus on health systems as an economic variable.
“Our region is moving beyond the mitigation of acute threats, such as pandemics, to address long-term structural challenges, including demographic changes, digitalization and extreme weather events,” said Junho Choi, Chair of the APEC Health Working Group. “In this context, we seek to integrate health as a core element of economic resilience and sustainable growth.”
The economic stakes are rising. Health spending already accounts for roughly 4 percent of gross domestic product across APEC economies, with direct implications for productivity, labor participation and long-term growth.
Against this backdrop, delegates examined how digital and artificial intelligence–enabled health systems could help offset demographic headwinds by strengthening primary and community-based care, improving prevention and supporting more integrated service delivery. Discussions focused on care coordination, health data governance and aligning digital innovation with health system capacity and financing.
Population aging featured prominently, as the share of those aged 65 and over across the region is projected to nearly double to about 22 percent by 2050. Economies examined practical strategies to prevent and manage chronic diseases, dementia and mental health conditions as demographic shifts accelerate.
Participants underscored the importance of promoting healthy aging across the life course while reducing long-term pressure on families, labor markets and public budgets.
Health financing was another core area of focus, as officials compared approaches to expanding health coverage while maintaining fiscal sustainability amid rising medical costs and longer life expectancy.
Delegates highlighted the need for evidence-informed financing reforms that strengthen primary care, improve continuity of services and support more efficient allocation of health resources.
The meeting period also featured a policy dialogue examining integrated prevention and treatment strategies for brain health. Participants explored how digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, telemedicine and data analytics can support early detection, coordinated care pathways and community-based management of neurological and mental health conditions.
“The health of the more than 2.9 billion people in our region is not merely a medical issue; it is a key driver of economic stability and sustainable growth,” Choi said. “Building resilient health systems capable of responding to these challenges is a prerequisite for the stable growth of the APEC region.”
APEC Reinforce Push Against Corruption to Safeguard Growth
Issued by the APEC Anti-Corruption and Transparency Working Group
With cross-border corruption and illicit financial flows rising alongside the rapid adoption of new technologies, anti-corruption and law enforcement officials called for stronger cooperation to protect transparency and economic growth across the region.
“As corruption becomes more cross-border and technologically enabled, including through cryptocurrencies, a fragmented response is no longer sufficient,” said Chen Long, Chair of the APEC Anti-Corruption and Transparency Working Group.
“Denying safe haven to corrupt offenders and their assets, strengthening cross-border cooperation and fully leveraging data and digital tools must be at the core of our approach to protecting economic integrity and sustainable growth in the region,” Chen added.
The two-day meeting in Guangzhou focused on turning long-standing anti-corruption commitments into practical cooperation that supports integrity, resilience and inclusive prosperity.
Member economies exchanged updates on their implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and other APEC commitments, including measures to strengthen legislation, enforcement capacity and international cooperation. Several members highlighted progress in denying safe haven to corruption and improving coordination on asset recovery.
A central theme of the meeting was the impact of emerging technologies on corruption risks and enforcement strategies. Economies shared experiences in using open-source data, big data and artificial intelligence in corruption investigations, while examining new threats such as cryptocurrency-related money laundering.
Progress on initiatives scheduled for delivery in 2026 was reviewed, including regional publications aimed at improving access to anti-corruption information and strengthening prevention systems in public sector and law enforcement agencies.
Work also advanced on an initiative addressing crypto money laundering in corruption cases, which is expected to result in an APEC good practices compilation later this year.
In opening remarks, the official in charge of the International Cooperation Department of China’s National Commission of Supervision said that as trade, investment and cross-border capital flows continue to expand, corruption has become a shared challenge for all economies. The remarks stressed the need to strengthen collective efforts against corruption, build a clean business environment and advance practical cooperation to safeguard fairness, justice and shared prosperity across the Asia-Pacific.
Separate discussions with the group's network brought together anti-corruption and law enforcement authorities, along with international organizations, to focus on operational cooperation, including asset recovery, cross-border corruption and links to organized crime.
Organizations such as the World Bank Group, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, Interpol and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank shared perspectives on strengthening coordination and information exchange to support regional and global anti-corruption efforts.
For further details and media inquiries, please contact:
media@apec.org
| Follow us at: | |
|
This news release can also be viewed on the APEC website: https://www.apec.org/press/
