The Asia-Pacific SME Resilience Development Forum, a key parallel session of the APEC SME Business Forum 2026, convened at the Yinhu Conference Center in Luohu on the afternoon of June 24. File photo

The Asia-Pacific SME Resilience Development Forum, a key parallel session of the APEC SME Business Forum 2026,    convened at the Yinhu Conference Center in Luohu on the afternoon of June 24. 

The event attracted academicians, industry leaders, and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss urban safety, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable development strategies.

During the forum, participants shared innovative technologies and practical achievements in fields such as new energy, energy conservation, and carbon reduction, both domestically and internationally, striving to build a new ecosystem for the sustainable development of SMEs in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Wei Yiming, vice president of the Beijing Institute of Technology and Academician of the German Academy of Science and Engineering, said that companies are in a "new stage" of green growth defined by decarbonization, digitalization, and institutionalization.

Farhana Kamaruddin, trade commissioner of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in Guangzhou, speaks at the forum. File photo

International cooperation was also a key focus, with Farhana Kamaruddin, trade commissioner of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in Guangzhou, actively inviting businesses to explore green product partnerships with Malaysia.

As a central district of Shenzhen, Luohu is aggressively developing emerging sectors in safety, energy conservation, and environmental protection. The district is leveraging its "half mountain, half city" landscape — boasting a 52% forest coverage rate — to pilot integrated solutions for low-carbon governance and emergency monitoring.

A standout example of this transformation is the Yulong Landfill Environmental Remediation Project in Luohu. With an investment of 2.2 billion yuan (US$324 billion), this project represents China’s first "environmental remediation + development" model in a central urban area. By treating 4.5 million tons of waste, the site is being repurposed into the "Qingshuihe Digital Innovation Valley," turning a former landfill into a hub for the digital economy.

Other local initiatives include:

● China Resources Recycling Group partnership: A market-driven pilot project to connect the entire resource recycling industry chain.

● Technological leadership: Local firms such as Underground Space Technology Co. of CNACG and Shenzhen MagicCubeSat Technology Co. showcased advanced solutions in emergency response and satellite applications.

The forum served as a platform for significant institutional partnerships. Luohu’s district government signed a memorandum with the Beijing Institute of Technology and the Shenzhen International Innovation and Exchange Center For SMEs in GBA to establish a carbon neutrality joint research center.

Furthermore, seven organizations signed centralized agreements to launch six major projects focused on energy and cross-border smart emergency response. In a display of "walking the talk," the forum itself was awarded a certificate for being a carbon neutrality pilot demonstration project, achieving a net-zero carbon footprint for the duration of the event.

A ceremony is held to mark the signing of strategic cooperation framework agreements. File photo

Luohu is positioning its national-level Asia-Pacific SME cooperation zone as a premier destination for regional collaboration. The district aims to serve as a pioneer for aligning local rules with Asia-Pacific standards, an efficient service platform for SMEs, a connector for regional industrial collaboration and a cluster hub for green enterprises.

"We will continue to leverage Luohu’s locational strengths and industrial density," said an exec from Changsheng Zhengyuan (Shenzhen), a company that has operated in the district for 20 years. "Our goal is to help SMEs expand globally with confidence through the National Safety Emergency Industry Demonstration Base."

Co-hosted by the SME Development Promotion Center of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the China International Cooperation Association of SMEs, and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, the APEC SME Business Forum 2026 was held in Luohu from June 23 to June 25.

Since its launch in 2017, the forum has been hosted in China six consecutive times. Under the theme "Digital Intelligence Empowers, Open Innovation Drives, Win-Win Cooperation Prevails," this year’s event was attended by 75 international guests from 13 APEC economies.