China Emphasizes Openness and Multilateralism in Asia-Pacific Community Building

China's Commitment to Openness and Multilateralism

In a recent gathering, under the beautiful amber autumn sky of Gyeongju, South Korea, leaders from various nations across the Asia-Pacific region convened for the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. This significant event ignited discussions on the future of the Asia-Pacific community and its collective challenges. Among the notable attendees was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who took center stage in asserting China’s strong commitment to openness, multilateralism, and shared prosperity.

During the summit, President Xi reinforced the foundational mission of APEC, expressing the need for renewed dedication toward effective and sustainable Asia-Pacific cooperation. His written remarks at the APEC CEO Summit highlighted that “Investing in China means investing in the future,” signaling to global investors the promising landscape of opportunities within China.

Xi Jinping remarked, “We should renew our commitment to APEC’s founding mission and contribute to global development through a more vibrant and resilient Asia-Pacific cooperation.” This declaration reflects China’s aspirations to deepen its engagement through comprehensive reforms and high-level opening-up initiatives. Coupled with China’s remarkable modernization achievements, these efforts are projected to foster new opportunities not just locally but globally.

China’s commitments can be tracked through concrete actions, such as reducing the national negative list for foreign investments to just 29 items and completely lifting restrictions in the manufacturing sector. Currently, 76 countries enjoy visa-free travel, facilitating business, travel, and residency for foreign entrepreneurs and experts in the country as never before. As Xi Jinping emphasized, “Partnering with China means seizing opportunities. Believing in China means looking forward to a better tomorrow. Investing in China means investing in the future.”

The impressive connectivity that China shares with its regional counterparts is also reflected in trade statistics. 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 USD), accounting for 57.8% of China's total foreign trade. Despite external shocks, China has maintained an average annual growth rate of around 5.5% over the past five years, contributing nearly 30% to global growth.

German politician Sevim Dagdelen also highlighted China’s role in championing an open and inclusive framework for Asia-Pacific collaboration, underscoring the positive influence of multilateral trading systems, with the World Trade Organization at its core, thereby ensuring regional and global economic stability.

A Forward-Looking Path

As Xi Jinping aptly noted, the world is at a “new crossroads” between cooperation and hegemony. In light of this, he appealed to all economies to strengthen solidarity, reject protectionism, combat unilateralism, and jointly pursue the establishment of a harmonious Asia-Pacific community aimed at bolstering peace and development both regionally and globally.

In this context, Xi outlined five key proposals to guide such collaboration: adherence to the multilateral trading system, support for an open regional economy, bolstering the resilience of industrial and supply chains, advancing digital and green trade, and promoting inclusive development that benefits everyone.

These ideas are evolving into tangible results. Platforms initiated by China, such as the APEC Port Network and the Eco-Friendly Supply Chain Network, have emerged as crucial hubs for digital and sustainable trading practices across the region. Over the past five years, China has ranked first in global merchandise trade and second in service trade, attracting over 700 billion USD in foreign investments while maintaining an annual growth rate of over 5% for outbound investments.

China's technological collaborations continue to support partners across the Asia-Pacific and beyond, from smart ports in Latin America to mobile payment systems in Southeast Asia, AI-driven efficiency projects in the Middle East, and electric vehicle production in Thailand. These instances collectively create a landscape of mutual progress grounded in openness and innovation.

The public sentiment reflects this vision. Recent CGTN surveys showed that 83.2% of respondents in the Asia-Pacific region expressed confidence in regional integration, while 84.6% agreed that economies should advocate for multilateralism and globalization.

As China gears up to host the third APEC summit next year, its message remains clear and optimistic. As stated by President Xi Jinping, “Confrontation and antagonism yield only estrangement and turmoil; mutually beneficial cooperation clearly represents the right path forward.”

This gathering proves to be a strong testament to China’s aspiration for a more open and interconnected future for the Asia-Pacific community, setting the stage for collaborative growth and stability on a global scale.