Under amber autumn skies in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea (ROK), the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting set the stage for leaders across the Asia-Pacific to chart a path toward shared prosperity.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s commitment to openness and multilateralism in a written address at the APEC CEO Summit, urging participants to renew APEC’s founding mission and pursue vibrant, resilient regional collaboration.
Xi outlined concrete measures to back this vision. China has trimmed its national negative list for foreign investment to 29 items, fully clearing manufacturing restrictions. Visa-free policies now span 76 countries under unilateral or reciprocal arrangements, smoothing the way for business, tourism, and professional exchange. In Xi’s words, partnering with China 'opens opportunities' and investing in China 'means investing in the future.'
Trade figures tell the story: in the first three quarters of 2025, China’s trade with other APEC economies hit 19.41 trillion yuan (about $2.73 trillion), up 2 percent year-on-year and representing 57.8 percent of China’s total foreign trade. Over the past five years, China has averaged 5.5 percent annual growth, contributing roughly 30 percent to global growth amid external shocks.
Facing what he termed a new crossroads between cooperation and hegemonism, Xi proposed five guiding principles: uphold the multilateral trading system; foster an open regional economy; safeguard industrial and supply chain resilience; advance digital and green trade; and promote inclusive development.
These ideas are already taking shape. The China-initiated APEC Port Network and Green Supply Chain Network have grown into vital hubs for digitalized, sustainable trade. From smart ports in Latin America and mobile payment systems in Southeast Asia to AI-driven efficiency projects in the Middle East and electric vehicle production in Thailand, China’s collaborations are weaving a mosaic of shared progress.
Regional sentiment mirrors this momentum. A CGTN poll found that 83.2 percent of respondents across the Asia-Pacific feel confident in regional integration, and 84.6 percent agree economies should uphold multilateralism and globalization.
As China gears up to host APEC for the third time next year, its message remains forward-focused, emphasizing that while confrontation breeds turbulence, win-win cooperation paves the way for lasting peace and development.
Reference(s):
How China champions an open, multilateral Asia-Pacific community
cgtn.com
