On September 15, Minister Counsellor Xu Qingjun of the Chinese Embassy in Canada attended and deliver remarks at the 2026 APEC Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Workshop held in Calgary.

Minister Counsellor Xu briefed participants on the outcomes of the 32nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting and the 21st China International SME Fair, both held in Guangzhou in early September. He shared China’s experience in supporting SME innovation and development, and promoting the digital and green transformation of SMEs. He indicated that China stands ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation on SMEs with all APEC economies, including Canada.

The workshop was hosted by the Office of the Chief Economist of Global Affairs Canada and the University of Calgary. Participants exchanged views on topics including SME development performance, industrial policy, international trade, digital transformation, financing support and green development. More than 50 government, academia and business representatives attended the workshop, among whom were Aaron Sydor, Director of Trade and Economic Analysis at the Office of the Chief Economist of Global Affairs Canada, and Eugene Beaulieu, Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary.