China will host the first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials’ Meeting and related events from February 1 to 10, marking the opening of the APEC “China Year” as the country prepares to convene the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November. Around 1,000 representatives from APEC member economies, the APEC Secretariat and the APEC Business Advisory Council are expected to attend. The goal, he said, is to accumulate substantive outcomes and consensus for consideration by economic leaders in November. China joined APEC in 1991 and has since positioned itself as a strong advocate of regional cooperation. This year’s leaders’ meeting will be China’s third time hosting the event, following meetings in Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.