President Xi Jinping Outlines Vision for Asia-Pacific Cooperation at APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting

President Xi Jinping addressed the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru, emphasizing the importance of solidarity, open cooperation, and green innovation to drive Asia-Pacific development amidst global challenges. Speaking to leaders from across the region, Xi highlighted key proposals to strengthen economic integration, promote green transformation, and ensure inclusive growth.

Xi called for building an open and interconnected Asia-Pacific, underscoring the significance of multilateralism and regional economic integration. He emphasized advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and reaffirmed China’s commitment to high-standard trade agreements, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and its aspirations to join the CPTPP and DEPA. The President also announced new bilateral and multilateral trade initiatives, including upgrading free trade agreements with Peru and ASEAN.

Green innovation featured prominently in Xi’s speech. He proposed fostering technological cooperation in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum information, and green supply chains. Xi also introduced China’s Global Cross-Border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative, aiming to enhance secure and efficient data exchange, and emphasized the need for a balanced digital and green transformation to support sustainable development.

Highlighting inclusivity, Xi stressed the importance of leveraging the APEC platform to bridge economic disparities. He welcomed Peru’s efforts in transitioning informal economies to formal ones and announced China’s initiatives to boost SME development, enhance income levels, and achieve equitable growth across Asia-Pacific economies.

Xi concluded by reaffirming China’s commitment to reform and opening up, sharing plans for hosting APEC 2026, and inviting global partners to participate in China’s developmental journey. He envisioned a future characterized by mutual benefit, peaceful development, and shared prosperity for the region.