Xi calls for openness in Asia-Pacific cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit via video, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov 11, 2021. (LI XUEREN / XINHUA)

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged efforts to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness and inclusiveness, innovation-driven growth, greater connectivity, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

"This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's joining of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. It has been three decades of deepening reform and opening-up for China, and of broadening economic cooperation across the Asia-Pacific," Xi said while addressing the 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing via video link.

Full Text: President Xi's remarks to APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting

The Asia-Pacific region has become the most dynamic and promising economic powerhouse globally, staying at the forefront of world economic development, and making its positive contribution to global growth and to the well-being of people in the region, he said.

It is the CPC's unchanging goal to deliver a better life for the over 1.4 billion Chinese people and to promote peace and development for humanity.

Xi Jinping, President, China

Xi urged efforts to keep up good work to put the Putrajaya Vision 2040 into action, and endeavor to "build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness and inclusiveness, innovation-driven growth, greater connectivity, and mutually beneficial cooperation."

Openness is the lifeline of Asia-Pacific cooperation, he said, calling for upholding open regionalism, following the guidance of the Putrajaya Vision 2040 in advancing regional economic integration, and working for the early realization of a high-standard Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.  

Stressing that economic and technical cooperation is an important area of cooperation, the Chinese leader said APEC members need to step up input, make sure that developing members get real benefit from such cooperation, and keep injecting new dynamism into the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific.

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He urged efforts to practice true multilateralism, stick to dialogue rather than confrontation, inclusiveness rather than exclusion, and integration rather than decoupling, and be resolute in safeguarding the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization at its core.

INNOVATION A DRIVING FORCE

Innovation is an important driving force that propels world development, said the Chinese leader.

"We need to commit ourselves to innovation-driven development, harness the power of the digital economy as a new growth engine, and spread the fruits of digital technologies to more people in our region," he said.

Efforts should be made to further develop the digital infrastructure, speed up digital transformation, strive to bridge the digital divide, and promote development of the digital economy in an all-round way, according to Xi.

China has put forward the initiative of Enhancing Implementation of APEC Connectivity Blueprint (2015-2025) in the Digital Era, Xi said.

"We support stronger international cooperation on the digital economy, and have applied to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement," Xi said.

CHINA TO EXPAND OPENING-UP

China will unswervingly expand opening-up, and share its development opportunities with APEC members and the wider world, said Xi.

"This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. It is the CPC's unchanging goal to deliver a better life for the over 1.4 billion Chinese people and to promote peace and development for humanity.”