On November 11, the Presidential Office of the Republic of China announced that President Lai Ching-te has formally invited Shih Chen-jung, the founder and honorary chairman of Acer Group, to represent Taiwan at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen, China. This invitation underscores the expectation that the Chinese side will fulfill its hosting responsibilities and adhere to its written commitments, ensuring that the Taiwanese delegation can participate in all discussions on the basis of equality, dignity, and security.
A press conference for the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting delegation will be held at the Presidential Office on the morning of November 12 at 10:30 a.m., where both President Lai and Shih Chen-jung will deliver remarks.
According to a press release from the office spokesperson, Kuo Ya-hui, President Lai has invited Shih Chen-jung to serve as Taiwan’s leader representative for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM), which will take place in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19 of this year.
Kuo emphasized that based on a memorandum of accession signed in 1991, Taiwan, as a formal member of APEC, continues to participate in various activities on an equal basis. This adherence to equal treatment is a longstanding practice within APEC and is not related to the so-called “One China Principle.”
She noted that Shih Chen-jung previously served as Taiwan’s APEC leader representative in 2007, participating in the Economic Leaders’ Meeting held in Sydney, Australia. His background provides him with extensive international exchange experiences.
Kuo highlighted that Shih Chen-jung is a pivotal figure in the development of Taiwan’s technology sector and the internationalization of its brands. He has been instrumental in successfully leading Taiwanese brands into global markets, thereby significantly enhancing the development of Taiwan’s information technology industry and its international competitiveness. His long-standing awareness of global technological trends gives him significant insight into key topics that APEC has focused on in recent years, including artificial intelligence (AI), the digital economy, and technological innovation.
“President Lai looks forward to leveraging Shih Chen-jung’s international perspective and industry expertise to lead the delegation actively in discussions, thereby allowing Taiwan’s viewpoint and experiences to contribute to global economic and trade development. This decision to invite him to attend this year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting reflects that vision,” Kuo stated.
Furthermore, Kuo emphasized that Taiwan has a long history of participation in APEC and has made substantial contributions to the economic development of the Asia-Pacific region. Given that various APEC economies have repeatedly reached a consensus on “equal participation for all,” there is hope that the Chinese side will hold to its responsibilities as host and its written assurances, ensuring that the Taiwanese delegation can engage in all discussions under conditions of equality, dignity, and security.