The Week Ahead (Sept. 21-27): U.N. Debate Opens, SpaceX Targets Orbital Starship Flight

Published: Sep. 18, 2026 11:31 p.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

Sept. 21: APEC labor ministers meet

APEC labor and employment ministers will meet in Nanjing to discuss job creation, skills training and more sustainable social-security systems.

Sept. 22: UN General Assembly debate opens

The 81st U.N. General Assembly’s general debate begins in New York, bringing together leaders from nearly 130 countries. The Israel-Palestine conflict and wider Middle East tensions will be central issues; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to speak on Sept. 23.

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and Bloomberg - for the price of one.

Disclaimer

This is an AI-generated English rendering of original reporting or commentary published by Caixin Media. In the event of any discrepancies, the Chinese version shall prevail.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

Sept. 21-30: APEC labor ministers, UN General Assembly, and WorldSkills Competition (Shanghai) convene; SpaceX targets first orbital Starship flight.
Netherlands begins trade sanctions on Israeli settlements; Cambodia hosts cybercrime talks; Japan trade delegation visits China.
Sept. 22-24: Alibaba Cloud's Apsara Conference and World NEV Conference (Haikou) focus on AI and industrial upgrading.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

SpaceX: According to the article, on Sept. 22, SpaceX targets the first orbital Starship flight, planning its 14th test flight of the heavy-lift rocket. The company also aims to deploy 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites.

Alibaba Cloud: Alibaba Cloud will hold the 2026 Apsara Conference in Hangzhou from Sept. 22-24, focusing on commercial AI applications. Organizers expect over 1,000 companies to participate.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When

Sept. 21, 2026：: APEC labor ministers meet in Nanjing to discuss job creation, skills training, and more sustainable social-security systems.

Sept. 22, 2026：: UN General Assembly debate opens in New York; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to speak on Sept. 23, 2026.

Sept. 22, 2026：: SpaceX targets the 14th test flight of its Starship heavy-lift rocket, aiming for its first orbital mission and deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites.

Sept. 22, 2026：: Netherlands begins a three-year trade-sanctions program targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights.

Sept. 22-27, 2026：: WorldSkills Competition opens in Shanghai, with over 1,400 competitors from more than 70 countries and regions.

Sept. 22-24, 2026：: Alibaba Cloud conference (Apsara Conference) in Hangzhou focuses on commercial AI applications, with over 1,000 companies expected.

Sept. 22-24, 2026：: World New Energy Vehicle Conference opens in Haikou, with participants from more than 20 countries and regions.

Sept. 23-24, 2026：: Cambodia hosts an international conference in Phnom Penh on combating online scams, with officials from 16 countries and representatives from six international organizations.

Sept. 27-30, 2026：: Japanese trade delegation from the Japan-China Economic Association, led by former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, visits China.

AI generated, for reference only

GALLERY

: Gallery: Zhu Rongji’s Legacy

NEWSLETTERS

Get our CX Daily, weekly Must-Read and China Green Bulletin newsletters delivered free to your inbox, bringing you China's top headlines.

We ‘ve added you to our subscriber list.

Manage subscription

PODCAST

China Business Uncovered Podcast: Exposing China’s Youth Correction Camps

00:00

00:00/00:00

MOST POPULAR

1: Chinese Retail Rush for U.S. Tech Stocks Drains Fresh Offshore Quotas

2: Cover Story: The Gray Market Behind a Cross-Border Investing Boom

3: China’s Investment Slump Deepens as Property Drag Overshadows Tech Shift

4: Shenzhen Land Sale Draws Strong Bidding Despite Tighter Rules

5: China’s PhD Glut Drives Top Graduates to High School Teaching Jobs