Esquel Group’s Chairman Marjorie Yang at the 2026 APEC China CEO Forum: Leveraging Hong Kong’s Strength to Advance the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific
Beijing, June 21, 2026 — Esquel Group’s Chairman Marjorie Yang attended the 2026 APEC China CEO Forum in Beijing. Hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the China Chamber of International Commerce, the event brought together policymakers, business leaders, and representatives from international organizations across the Asia-Pacific to advance open cooperation and regional economic growth.
Attending as the Hong Kong, China Representative to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Marjorie delivered remarks during the panel discussion titled "Advancing Open Cooperation to Forge a New Consensus on the FTAAP."
During the discussion, Marjorie highlighted the urgency of advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) in the face of ongoing energy shocks, supply chain restructuring, and inflationary pressures. She emphasized ABAC’s dual-track approach, combining top-down institutional negotiations with bottom-up, practical outcomes that empower micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Marjorie also highlighted Hong Kong's specific contributions to the FTAAP process, including the completion of comparative studies on rules of origin and the initiation of comparative studies on digital services trade rules, providing a crucial foundation for regulatory convergence. She further called for comprehensive trade digitalization and the implementation of the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) framework to ensure a fair competitive environment for businesses. She concluded by welcoming the inclusion of FTAAP as a priority agenda item for APEC in 2026,expressing optimism that the Shenzhen Declaration will inject new momentum into regional economic integration.
The panel was moderated by CGTN host Tian Wei and featured insights from Ge Haijiao, Chairman of Bank of China Limited; Richard Liu, Founder and Chairman of JD.com, Inc.; and Brett O'Riley, ABAC New Zealand Representative and Managing Director of an Auckland-based corporate governance consulting firm.
Speaking to the media, Marjorie shared perspectives on enterprise resilience, Hong Kong's role as an economic hub, and the future of regional collaboration. Addressing global uncertainties, she noted that challenges present opportunities, encouraging enterprises to actively adopt new competitive strategies. She reaffirmed her confidence that through continuous evolution and operational transformation, Chinese enterprises will forge new pathways for development.
Reflecting on Hong Kong’s participation in APEC, Marjorie noted that the platform is vital for expanding global business networks. She underscored Hong Kong's robust financial infrastructure and its role as a critical springboard for mainland enterprises going global. Highlighting the city’s historical role as a gateway connecting the mainland to global markets, she stated that its modern financial and institutional strengths, alongside the development of the Northern Metropolis, provide the foundation for its future growth and continued relevance as a natural hub for the region.
The 2026 APEC China CEO Forum, held under the theme "Openness, Connectivity, Synergy: Linking the Asia-Pacific for a Shared Future," served as a key event in the 2026 APEC China Year.
This year, with broad cross-sector support, ABAC reinstated its Connectivity Working Group after an eight-year hiatus and issued statements supporting the FTAAP and regional connectivity. As Co-Chair of the 2026 ABAC Connectivity Working Group, Marjorie has led multiple initiatives advancing regional integration, digital trade, and sustainable development.