Wen Wei Po Interview: From “Going Global” to “Joining the Network” — What APEC Means for Hong Kong
Wen Wei Po recently interviewed Sam Han, Partner of Union Communications Hong Kong Limited, on how Hong Kong can help Chinese enterprises deepen their participation in APEC and turn business capabilities into regional cooperation (https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202610/19/AP6ad53071e4b01d54a287b2b8.html).
The article is titled in Hong Kong Can Help Chinese Mainland Enterprises Go Global and Bring “Chinese Solutions” into APEC Networks, published on 19 October 2026. It traced Sam’s engagement with APEC since 2017, from participating in digital economy discussions and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) process to designing and implementing projects across areas including trade, technology innovation, digital inclusion and women’s economic participation.
From “Going Global” to “Joining the Network”
One of the key messages highlighted in the interview is that internationalisation should go beyond simply “going global.”
For companies seeking to participate more deeply in APEC, the next step is to “join the network”, becoming part of regional networks of rules, knowledge sharing and partnerships. This requires companies to move beyond presenting their technologies and products, and instead translate their capabilities into solutions that other APEC economies can understand, participate in and benefit from.
Hong Kong as a Connector and Value-Adder
The interview also highlights Hong Kong’s potential role as both a “Super Connector” and “Super Value-Adder.”
Rather than simply helping companies organise overseas events or promote products internationally, Hong Kong can add value by connecting technologies with international markets, professional services, partners and regional cooperation opportunities. This can help transform individual business strengths into practical solutions to shared challenges across the Asia-Pacific.
Building “APEC 2.0” Assets
Looking beyond APEC 2026, the interview argues that the real legacy should not be measured only by the number of meetings held.
More lasting value can come from building a group of people who understand APEC, developing business cases that can enter APEC cooperation mechanisms, creating international partnerships, and nurturing cross-economy projects that continue for years beyond the host year.
These are what Sam describes as “APEC 2.0" assets, turning a host year into a longer-term platform for regional engagement and cooperation.
Read the full Chinese-language interview in Wen Wei Po:
韓冰：港助內企國際化 推動「中國方案」入APEC網絡
