Pedestrians walk past an APEC-themed installation in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Aug 10. LIANG XU/XINHUA

　　The upcoming 33rd APEC Economic Leaders" Meeting in Shenzhen, South China"s Guangdong province, in November will be an opportunity to promote free trade amid rising protectionism and fragmentation, experts say.

　　"Despite global headwinds, the Asia-Pacific remains the world"s most dynamic economic engine. With its overlapping patchwork of mega-regional trade agreements, the region is posturing a very productive and functional posture," said Mohamed Iqbal, deputy chairman of Malaysian think tank KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and former chairman of the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council.

　　While the world is in disorder due to natural disasters, geopolitical tensions and structural fragmentation, Iqbal said the upcoming meeting brings a ray of hope for resetting global geo-economic affairs, with China stretching out its arms for economic cooperation and integration for the betterment of the region and beyond.

　　The Nov 18-19 annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation will mark China"s third time as host following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014. This year"s theme is "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together".

　　As major economies increasingly deploy protectionist measures, Iqbal said trade policy is no longer just about market access but has become an instrument of national security.

　　"As the host of APEC 2026, China is in a rare advantageous position as the champion of open multilateralism and the regional economic core," he said, adding that the meeting faces great expectations.