As leaders gear up for the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, a fresh poll by CGTN and Renmin University of China sheds light on how citizens across the region view the bloc’s performance and China’s impact on regional integration.
Surveying 4,048 people from 15 APEC member economies aged 18 to 65, the poll finds overwhelming confidence in APEC’s role:
- 83.3% recognize APEC as the most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the region.
- Over 70% praise its work on innovation, global governance, cultural exchanges, free trade, and tackling global challenges.
- 83.2% are optimistic about Asia-Pacific integration, citing tech cooperation, trade liberalization, and people-to-people mobility as top achievements.
Turning to China’s contributions, the survey highlights strong approval:
- 81.9% back China’s vision for an open, inclusive, and innovation-driven Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.
- 83.4% commend China for sustainable development efforts within APEC, including sharing growth experiences, opening market opportunities, and supporting the multilateral trading system.
- Respondents expect China to lead on equitable trade, digital economy, tech innovation, and regional stability.
Data-driven insights reveal a clear message: young global citizens and business leaders are looking for cooperation rooted in innovation, green growth, and multilateralism. As Asia-Pacific remains a powerhouse—home to over a third of the world’s population and more than 60% of global GDP—these findings set the stage for a meeting focused on real-world impact.
With calls for deeper scientific collaboration (87%), green transition (86.9%), and upholding a fair, open trade environment (84.6%), the poll underlines the priorities shaping the future of Asia-Pacific integration. All eyes are now on APEC leaders to turn these aspirations into action.
Reference(s):
CGTN Poll: 80% of people laud China's role in Asia-Pacific integration
cgtn.com
