Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao accepted an interview regarding the hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Ministers' Meeting
Beijing, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce, recently gave an interview regarding the hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Ministers' Meeting.
As an important mechanism meeting held in the middle of the "APEC Year", the Trade Ministers' Meeting mainly discusses major economic and trade issues in the Asia Pacific region and globally, and undertakes the important task of contributing to the results of the leaders' meeting. It is also a "barometer" for economic and trade policies in the Asia Pacific region and even globally. The trade ministers' meeting will be held in Suzhou, Jiangsu in late May, and all parties will focus on discussing economic and trade cooperation around the APEC "Year of China" cooperation theme of "Building an Asia Pacific Community and Promoting Common Prosperity".
Wang Wentao stated that the current international situation is intertwined with turmoil, geopolitical instability is intensifying, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, the international economic and trade order is facing severe challenges, and global and Asia Pacific development is being impacted. All parties are looking forward to the conference gathering consensus and achieving results. China is maintaining close communication with all parties, holding high the banner of openness, innovation, and cooperation, and working together to promote the preparatory work. Openness means firmly maintaining the multilateral trading system, opposing the construction of walls and barriers, and enhancing the level of regional economic integration; Innovation means adhering to innovation driven development, creating incremental markets and expanding the economic and trade cake through technological progress and transformation applications; Cooperation is to uphold the original intention and vision of APEC, maintain a favorable trade and investment environment, and inject more stability and certainty into the regional and world economy.
Wang Wentao introduced that this trade ministerial meeting will discuss four key areas: promoting regional economic integration and the Asia Pacific Free Trade Area process, supporting the World Trade Organization, strengthening digital cooperation, and developing a green economy. These areas have formed a continuation and echo with previous topics, and also reflect distinct annual characteristics; It covers both macro level discussions on economic governance and practical cooperation in emerging and cutting-edge fields of common concern to all parties.
Since joining the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 35 years ago, China has always been a firm supporter and important contributor to APEC, and an active advocate and leader of economic and trade cooperation in the Asia Pacific region. China will expand high-level opening up, adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results, and inject strong impetus into the economic development of the Asia Pacific region. Adhere to openness and integration, and promote the construction of an open Asia Pacific economy. Adhere to the principle of building oneself and reaching people, and constantly provide new opportunities for the Asia Pacific and the world with new achievements of Chinese path to modernization.