Ex-Singaporean diplomat: APEC meeting in SZ could inspire global development

The 2026 APEC meeting to be held in Shenzhen could inspire global development, a renowned scholar and diplomat said at a recent interview with South International Communication Center.

Standing on top of a skyscraper at Shenzhen Bay, Professor Kishore Mahbubani, former Singaporean ambassador to the United Nations, traced his initial encounter with Shenzhen in 1975 when he visited Hong Kong and had a brief glimpse across the border of what was then a little fishing village.

Professor Kishore Mahbubani (L), former Singaporean ambassador to the United Nations, and a South reporter admire Shenzhen's dazzling night scene. Photos from WeChat official account "深圳发布"

“Fifty years ago, the land where I’m standing has nothing except the farmland and farmers. But now the skyscrapers are in par with those in New York,” said Mahbubani.

Since 1975, Mahbubani has followed Shenzhen’s development closely. 

“No place in the world has grown so rapidly as Shenzhen, and what is even more astonishing is that it continues to progress at high speed. That is why the Shenzhen story is one of the world’s most remarkable development achievements,” said Mahbubani.

He applauded Shenzhen’s innovation ecosystem and technological progress, and believed Shenzhen’s powerful innovation ecosystem now attracts global attention.

"When leaders of APEC economies come here, their most natural reaction might be, 'We must let the people of our own country see this,'" he said.

"The city of Shenzhen itself will become a central topic, offering the world different sources of inspiration, " Mahbubani added.

He believes that such "inspiration" is first embedded in the leap forward of its industries. At BYD, he test-drove the latest model produced by the Shenzhen-based company, experiencing firsthand the comprehensive breakthroughs of this Shenzhen-based enterprise — from technological safety to driving experience.

Mahbubani test-drives a new energy vehicle by BYD. 

Starting as a battery manufacturer for mobile phones, the company has, over three decades, grown into a new energy giant with operations spanning 116 countries and regions.

"BYD’s story is a microcosm of Shenzhen’s grand narrative — a tale of innovation and determination," observed Mahbubani.

2025 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Over these 45 years, Shenzhen has developed at a rapid, upward pace, with its GDP soaring from 270 million yuan in 1980 to 3.68 trillion yuan in 2024. This represents an average annual growth rate of 18.8%, placing its economic output as the third highest among Chinese mainland cities. 

Mahbubani (C) on a visit to the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub.

Shenzhen’s “inspiration” is also reflected in its institutional innovation. At the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub,  Mahbubani visited startups and engaged with representatives of several Hong Kong-funded enterprises. The “one yuan per square meter per month” rental policy and the comprehensive entrepreneurial support system left a deep impression on him. 

“This might be the lowest rent in the world,” he said, adding that the initiatives are truly admirable and worthy of learning by other counties.

In the view of Mahbubani, Shenzhen's 45 years of development also represents a journey in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong relationship—from one-directional "influence" from Hong Kong to two-way empowerment and mutual prosperity.

At the Shenzhen (Longhua) International Cooperation Center, Mahbubani gained a detailed understanding of how the government systematically addresses various challenges faced by enterprises, from establishment to growth, through one-stop services.

"This service model has proven highly successful in Singapore, and now I see an equally efficient version of it in Shenzhen," Mahbubani noted. 

He pointed out that a core advantage of China's special economic zones lies in the government's holistic coordination — "It's not only the economic departments driving progress, but the entire governance system providing support for innovation, thereby successfully building an ecosystem capable of continuously nurturing new enterprises and entrepreneurs."

Mahbubani tries a pair of AR glasses developed by RayNeo. 

At RayNeo, Mahbubani put on AR glasses and experienced what "an extension of reality" means: translation text appeared in real time before his eyes, enabling effortless first-person perspective photography, browsing Douyin, and even interacting with a built-in AI assistant. This company, founded just three years ago, now holds nearly 40% of the global market share.

"What surprises me most is how advanced the industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have already become. In some fields, China is not catching up with other countries, but is leading the way," said Mahbubani.

In today's world of sluggish global growth, Mahbubani found in Shenzhen a different answer to development. He said the Western world seems to have stopped treating progress as a primary goal, but 88% of the world's population lives outside the West, and they still yearn for development."

He believes that the achievements Shenzhen has made over its 45 years as a special economic zone provides a visible and analyzable development model for other developing countries. 

"For nations still searching for a path forward, especially those grappling with poverty, Shenzhen's story offers crucial confidence and a good reference."