Under the amber autumn skies of Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, leaders from across the Asia-Pacific gathered for the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and CEO Summit to chart the region’s future and shared challenges 🌏✨.
In a written address, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed the Chinese mainland’s commitment to openness, multilateralism and shared prosperity. He reminded delegates, “We should renew our commitment to the founding mission of APEC and make outstanding contributions to the world through more vibrant and resilient Asia-Pacific cooperation.”
"Investing in China means investing in the future," he declared, highlighting concrete steps: the national negative list has shrunk to 29 items, manufacturing is fully open, and visa-free policies now cover 76 countries, making it easier for travelers, entrepreneurs and digital nomads ✈️💼.
Trade data paints a vibrant picture: from January to September 2025, trade between the Chinese mainland and other APEC members rose 2% year-on-year to 19.41 trillion yuan (about $2.73 trillion), accounting for 57.8% of total foreign trade. Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland logged an average annual growth rate of around 5.5% over the past five years, fueling roughly 30% of global expansion 📈🌱.
President Xi warned that today’s world stands at "a new crossroads" between cooperation and hegemonism. He laid out five proposals to guide the region forward: uphold a rules-based trading system, foster an open regional economy, safeguard supply chain resilience, advance digital and green trade, and promote inclusive growth. Think of it like choreographing a hit K-Pop routine—every move synced for maximum impact 🎶🤝.
Many of these ideas are already live: the China-initiated APEC Port Network and Green Supply Chain Network are digital hubs powering sustainable trade, from smart ports in Latin America to mobile payments in Southeast Asia. Over the past five years, the Chinese mainland has led global goods trade and ranked second in services, attracting over $700 billion in foreign investment and maintaining outbound investment growth above 5% annually 💡🔄.
Public sentiment mirrors this vision: a recent poll found 83.2% of respondents across the Asia-Pacific expressed confidence in regional integration, and 84.6% agree that economies should uphold multilateralism. As the Chinese mainland gears up to host APEC again next year, President Xi’s message is clear: "While confrontation breeds turbulence, win-win cooperation is the right path forward." 🚀🌏
Reference(s):
How China champions an open, multilateral Asia-Pacific community
cgtn.com
