Finance ministers from member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum have agreed to strengthen macroeconomic policy communication and coordination to address external risks and challenges, Chinese Minister of Finance Lan Foan said on Wednesday, Reuters reported from Hong Kong.

"All members agreed that we should enhance the soundness of our macroeconomic policies," Lan said after the meeting, adding that ministers also agreed to strengthen fiscal and financial systems to better handle uncertainty and safeguard regional economic and financial stability. The 2026 APEC Finance Ministers' Joint Statement and a policy statement on enhancing regional cooperation on digital infrastructure financing were issued as the two-day event wrapped up in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Businesswire reported.

The digital-infrastructure statement said member economies are encouraged to develop "reliable, accessible, scalable, trusted, secure and resilient digital infrastructure", enhance digital literacy and skills, and promote cross-border digital connectivity, Reuters reported. Ministers also sought deeper collaboration between the public sector, the private sector and multilateral development banks, and discussed outcomes on fiscal policies supporting households, financial access and exchanges for young finance professionals.

Lan said artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies could raise productivity and support new sources of growth, and that support for households and investment in people could lift household spending, domestic demand and productivity, while governments needed to maintain fiscal discipline and ensure sustainable public finances, according to Reuters. At the meeting, Vietnam's finance minister shared an assessment that global economic growth was projected at 3.1 percent in 2026 and 3.4 percent in 2027, while the world economy continued to face risks from geopolitical tensions, high interest rates and technological gaps between economies, Vietnam Investment Review reported.

The Hong Kong gathering brought together ministers or senior representatives from APEC's 21 member economies. Vietnam is set to officially take over the APEC 2027 host role at the closing of this year's finance ministers' meeting, Vietnam's finance ministry said, according to VNA reporting carried by EIN Presswire. Sources: Reuters; Hong Kong Businesswire; Vietnam Investment Review; EIN Presswire (VNA).