Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, November 12 - On the evening of November 12, President Xi Jinping attended the 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting via video link in Beijing and delivered an important speech.
Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 30th anniversary of China's accession to APEC. These three decades have witnessed China's deepening reform and expanding opening-up, as well as the continuous expansion of economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. The Asia-Pacific has become the region with the most dynamic growth and greatest development potential in the world, making positive contributions to global economic growth and the well-being of people in the region. We should advance the implementation of the Putrajaya Vision 2040 and build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future that is open, inclusive, innovative, interconnected, and cooperative for win-win outcomes.
First, promote cooperation on COVID-19 response and economic recovery. Defeating the pandemic and restoring economic growth at an early date is the most pressing task for all APEC members at present. We need to take a science-based approach to COVID-19 response, deepen international cooperation, and facilitate the R&D, production and equitable distribution of vaccines. China has announced that it will strive to provide two billion doses of vaccines to the world throughout this year, and has already provided over 1.7 billion doses. Not long ago, China proposed a Global Vaccine Cooperation Action Initiative, pledging three billion U.S. dollars over the next three years to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries. China welcomes APEC's Initiative on Facilitating the Movement of Essential Goods and People and will continue supporting the Sub-Fund for COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery to help restore and develop the economy of all members.
On the evening of November 12, President Xi Jinping attended the 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting via video link in Beijing and delivered an important speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xiang.
Second, we should build an open Asia-Pacific economy. Openness is the lifeline of Asia-Pacific cooperation. We should stay committed to open regionalism, advance regional economic integration, and build a high-quality Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific at an early date. We should practice true multilateralism, stick to dialogue instead of confrontation, inclusiveness instead of exclusion, and integration instead of decoupling, and firmly safeguard the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization at its core. China looks forward to the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as scheduled next year and has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Third, promoting innovation-driven growth and digital economy development. Innovation is a key driver propelling world development. We should stay committed to the innovation-driven development strategy, implement the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap in a comprehensive and balanced manner, and foster an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for innovation and productivity growth. We should strengthen digital infrastructure, accelerate digital transformation, bridge the digital divide and promote the full development of the digital economy. China has proposed the Initiative for International Cooperation on Digital Economy, supports stronger international cooperation on the digital economy, and has applied to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA).
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Nov 12, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
Fourth, achieving inclusive and sustainable development. We should promote harmonious coexistence between man and Nature, actively respond to climate change, promote green and low-carbon transition and endeavor to build a community of all life on Earth. China supports developing countries in developing green and low-carbon energy, and stands ready to work with relevant parties to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and fully implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to deliver more benefits of development to people in all countries in a more equitable way. The Global Development Initiative I proposed is aimed at ushering global development into a new stage that is balanced, coordinated and inclusive. It holds great significance for promoting sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. Economic and technical cooperation is an important area of APEC cooperation. We should increase input to ensure that developing members benefit from such cooperation and sustain new impetus into the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
Xi stressed that this year marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The Party has set it as its unswerving goal to deliver a better life for over 1.4 billion Chinese people and promote human peace and development. China has now embarked on a new journey to build itself into a modern socialist country in all respects. China will open up still wider to the outside world and share its development opportunities with the world and other Asia-Pacific members.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Nov 12, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
Xi Jinping concluded by emphasizing that there is a Maori proverb in New Zealand: "Success is not achieved by individuals but by the collective." China is willing to work with all APEC members to actively promote the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future and jointly open a new chapter in Asia-Pacific economic cooperation.
The meeting was chaired by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, with the theme of "Promoting Economic Recovery in the Post-Pandemic Era and Achieving Shared Prosperity for the People and Future Generations of the Asia-Pacific." The meeting adopted the implementation plan for the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and issued the 2021 APEC Leaders' Declaration.
Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, and He Lifeng attended the meeting.