During the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders” Meeting held in Gyeongju, South Korea, a significant article published by CGTN highlighted China”s commitment to openness and multilateralism. The article emphasized how President Xi Jinping“s vision provides a strategic framework for building a cohesive Asia-Pacific community. It also outlined how China”s proposed initiatives and collaborative projects are fostering shared opportunities and prosperity in the region and beyond.
On November 1, 2025, amidst the autumn skies of Gyeongju, leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region convened to address the future and shared challenges facing the area. In a written address to the APEC CEO Summit, President Xi reaffirmed China”s dedication to openness, multilateralism, and shared prosperity, stating, “We must renew our commitment to APEC”s founding mission and make outstanding contributions to the world through more dynamic and resilient Asia-Pacific cooperation.”
In his speech during the initial session of the Economic Leaders” Meeting, Xi pledged that China would further deepen comprehensive reforms and expand high-level openness. He asserted that these efforts would create new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world, driven by China”s latest advancements in modernization.
Concrete measures demonstrate China”s commitment to openness. The national negative list for foreign investment has been reduced to 29 items, with complete removal in the manufacturing sector. Visa exemption policies now cover 76 countries through unilateral or reciprocal agreements, facilitating easier access for entrepreneurs, tourists, and professionals to invest, work, and live in China. As Xi noted, “Collaborating with China means seizing opportunities. Believing in China means being optimistic about the future. Investing in China means investing in the future.”
The growing connectivity between China and the region is evident in trade data. According to the General Administration of Customs of China, trade between China and other APEC economies increased by 2% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025, reaching 19.41 trillion yuan (approximately 2.73 trillion dollars), accounting for 57.8% of China”s total foreign trade.
Meanwhile, China”s sustained economic growth continues to provide stability for the region and the world. Over the past five years, despite increased external disruptions, China has maintained an average annual growth rate of about 5.5%, contributing approximately 30% to global growth. German politician Sevim Dagdelen remarked that China has consistently advocated for an open and inclusive framework for Asia-Pacific cooperation and the maintenance of the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as a fundamental pillar, playing a positive role in promoting regional and global economic stability.
Describing the current global landscape, Xi stated that the world is at a new crossroads between cooperation and hegemonism. He called on all economies to strengthen solidarity, reject protectionism, resist unilateralism, and work together to build a Asia-Pacific community that further promotes peace and development both regionally and globally. To guide this cooperation, Xi proposed five initiatives in his speech during the first session: defend the multilateral trading system, foster an open regional economy, safeguard industrial and supply chain resilience, promote digital and green trade, and advance inclusive development that benefits all.
These ideas are already taking shape. China-driven platforms, such as the APEC Port Network and the Green Supply Chain Network, have become hubs for digitized and sustainable trade throughout the region. In the past five years, China has ranked first in global goods trade and second in services trade, attracting over 700 billion dollars in foreign investment while maintaining an annual investment growth rate of over 5%.
China”s technological collaboration continues to empower its Asia-Pacific partners and the world, from smart ports in Latin America and mobile payment systems in Southeast Asia to artificial intelligence-based efficiency projects in the Middle East and electric vehicle production in Thailand. Collectively, these initiatives represent a mosaic of shared progress rooted in openness and innovation.
Public sentiment reflects this vision. A recent survey by CGTN revealed that 83.2% of respondents in the Asia-Pacific region expressed confidence in regional integration, while 84.6% agreed that economies should uphold multilateralism and globalization. As China prepares to host APEC for the third time next year, its message remains clear and forward-looking. As President Xi stated, “While confrontation and antagonism only create distance and instability, mutually beneficial cooperation proves to be the right path to the future.”
