In Chengdu, the economies of the Asia-Pacific gathered not merely to discuss a technology, but to ask an older and more enduring question: how does a region ensure that the fruits of transformation are shared rather than concentrated? Representing three billion people and nearly two-thirds of global economic output, APEC's 21 member economies adopted the Chengdu Statement in July 2026, committing to cooperative AI development across manufacturing, agriculture, and services, with particular attention to those who might otherwise be left at the margins of the digital age. The meeting reflected a