A dynamic economy is powered by small and medium-sized businesses. The 10th Annual APEC Small & Medium Enterprises Technology Conference showcases this in a big way. CGTN's GUAN YANG takes us to Shenyang in northeast China to show us why SMEs matter a lot to a country's economic prosperity.

For years, small & medium enterprises have benefited from starting businesses in countries like Singapore. They have taken advantage of its unique geographic location and mature business environment. Gu Yong, the chairman of one aquaculture company from Singapore has just made his first investing move in China, the destination - northeast.

GU YONG, CHAIRMAN LIM SHRIMP SINGAPORE "We've done the research, northeastern China is a region where the economy mainly relies on large state-owned enterprises. Which means, for individuals and small startups, the options for the types of business they can start with is limited. We are here to fill the gap."

Small and medium enterprises employ over half the workforce of APEC economies, with their share of GDP ranging from 2-50% in the majority of the APEC family. And this time, many exhibitors have come to the conference to look for inspiration.

THEPTHAI SURIYALAKSH, PRESIDENT SMEs ASSOCIATION, THAILAND "SMEs from Thailand would like to know more about the AEPC world, to adapt, and to improve the products in the service and tourism sectors. Because if you don't know the real situation, you don't know what can be changed."

GUAN YANG SHENYANG, LIAONING PROVINCE "For the first time, the APEC Small & Medium Enterprises Conference is being held in the country's northeast. The small & medium-sized businesses are already the bedrock of most APEC economies, with the right tools and support, they could well become the foundation of sustainable economic growth too - and this is just what the northeast currently needs."

China's northeast, dominated by heavy industries has long struggled to keep up with rapid growing regions on the east coast where small & medium sized businesses play a leading role in the economy. The conference this week opens the door for many local SMEs to learn more.

WANG JIAN, ASST. MANAGER LIAONING ZHUANGLONG UAV TECH CO. "I think the task of many SMEs at the early stage of the business is to survive. We found a need in the market, then turned it into an actual business. In this process, a sound business environment is everything."

For nearly 30 years, APEC has created effective networks for communication among officials and businesses, which has built significant mutual trust. The small and medium enterprises that attended the conference in Shenyang are hoping to further smooth out differences and identify shared interests. GUAN YANG, CGTN.