China's commitment to Asia-Pacific shared prosperity highlighted at APEC gatherings

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation mechanism has turned the region into the most dynamic part of the global economy over the past three decades thanks to its stress on inclusivity, openness, cooperation and coordination.

The adoption of the Gyeongju Declaration, along with two new frameworks — the APEC Artificial Intelligence Initiative (2026-30) and the APEC Collaborative Framework for Demographic Changes — at the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, reflects the shared determination of the regional economies to strengthen their coordination and deepen cooperation on emerging challenges such as technological transformation and demographic fluxes.

These outcomes embody the spirit of inclusiveness, openness and innovation that China has long championed.

President Xi Jinping's attendance at the meeting and his bilateral talks on the sidelines with other APEC leaders have once again demonstrated China's steadfast commitment to advancing Asia-Pacific cooperation, strengthening regional coordination and promoting regional growth.

In his speeches at the APEC sessions and his written speech at the APEC CEO Summit, Xi set out a comprehensive vision and a practical road map for jointly building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

He put forward a five-point proposal calling on the APEC economies to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system, build an open economic environment in the region, keep industry and supply chains stable and smooth, advance the digital and green transformation of trade, and promote universally beneficial and inclusive development.

That will be conducive to the region strengthening policy communication, experience sharing and results-oriented cooperation to foster a new dynamism in the inclusive growth of the economies.

China's active role and constructive proposals are injecting stability and fresh momentum into common development. Its approach is rooted in true multilateralism and the conviction that openness leads to progress.

In his written speech at the APEC CEO Summit on Friday, Xi reiterated that China will continue to deepen reform and high-quality development through high-standard opening-up, bring more stability and certainty to the Asia-Pacific and world economy, and provide fertile soil for global investors and entrepreneurs.

As the world's most dynamic region, the Asia-Pacific should lead in safeguarding peace and stability, enhancing openness and connectivity, promoting win-win cooperation, and pursuing inclusiveness. To that end, China's economic transformation — marked by the rapid rise of digital, green and smart industries — will continue to serve as an engine.

Xi proposed that the region should "spark data into life" as a basic resource and an engine for innovation, promote the safe and orderly flow of data, and accelerate high-quality development of the digital economy.

The APEC economies should deepen cooperation on open source technologies and build an open, competitive ecosystem for innovation. China is ready to work with all APEC members to enhance AI literacy and bridge the digital and AI divide in the Asia-Pacific region.

Similarly, Xi's emphasis on green and low-carbon development aligns with regional aspirations for sustainability. In doing so, the country is supporting APEC's Putrajaya Vision 2040 and Bangkok Goals by promoting the use of digital technology to foster sustainability.

Xi's bilateral meetings with other APEC leaders in Gyeongju further highlighted China's constructive role in fostering regional stability on the basis of mutual respect and shared benefit.

China will host the next APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen in November next year.

Shenzhen — a dynamic driver of reform, innovation, openness and collaboration — provides a fitting venue for exploring the future of Asia-Pacific cooperation.

The APEC economies should seize that opportunity to work together to inject greater vitality into regional cooperation through initiatives on connectivity, the digital economy and artificial intelligence.