China's Role in Promoting Multilateralism for a Prosperous Asia-Pacific Community

China’s Role in Promoting Multilateralism for a Prosperous Asia-Pacific Community

During the recent 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, President Xi Jinping articulated China's vision of openness and multilateralism, emphasizing its importance in building a unified Asia-Pacific community. Amidst the scenic autumn backdrop of ancient temples, leaders from across the Asia-Pacific gathered to discuss the region’s future and its collective challenges.

Commitment to Multilateralism

In his address to the APEC CEO Summit, Xi reiterated China’s long-standing dedication to multilateralism and shared prosperity, stating, "We must renew our commitment to the founding mission of APEC and contribute to the world through more dynamic and resilient Asia-Pacific cooperation." His remarks are a reminder of China’s strategic goals in fostering collaborative economic relationships in the region.

Investing in the Future

Xi’s pledge to deepen reforms and enhance openness reflects a strategic maneuver to create new opportunities not only for China but also for the entire Asia-Pacific region. This approach has significant implications, as evidenced by the simplification of foreign investment regulations and the expansion of visa-free travel to 76 nations. This initiative aims to ease the process for foreign businesses, tourists, and professionals looking to invest, work, and live in China.

“Partnering with China means seizing amazing opportunities. Believing in China is believing in the future,” Xi emphasized, highlighting an optimistic outlook for potential investors.

The increasing trade partnership is substantiated by data from the General Administration of Customs of China, which revealed that trade volume between China and APEC economies rose by 2% year-on-year to approximately 19.41 trillion yuan (about $2.73 trillion) in the first three quarters of 2025. This accounts for 57.8% of China’s overall trade.

Steady Economic Growth

Despite external pressures, China’s economy has shown resilience, maintaining an average annual growth rate of around 5.5% over the past five years, contributing to nearly 30% of global growth. German politician Sevim Dagdelen praised China’s advocacy for an open and inclusive cooperation framework, underscoring its role in supporting a multilateral trading system centered around the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Path Ahead

Xi outlined a vision for global cooperation amidst rising protectionism. He called on economies to strengthen solidarity, denounce unilateralism, and work in unison to fortify peace and development in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Five key proposals emerged from his discourse:
1. Support for the multilateral trading system.
2. Promotion of an open regional economy.
3. Preservation of supply chain resilience.
4. Advancement of digital and green trade.
5. Encouragement of inclusive development beneficial to all.

These proposals are materializing through platforms China has initiated, including the APEC Port Network and the Green Supply Chain Network, which are crucial for facilitating sustainable and digitized trade across the region. In fact, over the last five years, China has maintained a lead in global goods trade and captured the second position in service trade, attracting over $700 billion in foreign investments while achieving annual foreign investment growth exceeding 5%.

Enhancing Regional Capabilities

China's technological cooperation has significantly uplifted the capabilities of its Asia-Pacific counterparts. This spans a diverse range of initiatives, 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. Collectively, these projects weave a tapestry of shared progress through openness and innovation.

Surveys reflect a strong public sentiment supporting regional integration, with 83.2% of respondents in the Asia-Pacific expressing confidence in this collaborative effort. Additionally, 84.6% agreed on the importance of upholding multilateralism and globalization.

As China prepares to host APEC for the third time next year, the message remains forward-looking. “Confrontation leads only to division and turbulence, while win-win cooperation is the path we must pursue,” concluded President Xi, reinforcing the imperative of collaborative engagement for a prosperous future.