Speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 28th APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting (full text)

Dear Prime Minister Ardern,
Dear colleagues:
It is a pleasure to meet you all. First of all, I thank Prime Minister Ardern and the New Zealand government for their efforts in this meeting. The theme of this conference is “Promoting the economic recovery after the epidemic and realizing the common prosperity of people in the Asia-Pacific region and future generations”, which is of great significance.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of China’s accession to APEC. These 30 years have been the 30 years that China has deepened reforms and expanded opening up, and it has also been 30 years that the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation has continued to expand. The Asia-Pacific has become the region with the most growth vitality and development potential in the world. It has always been at the forefront of world economic development and has made positive contributions to world economic growth and the well-being of the people in the region.
Last year, based on the initial realization of the Bogor Goals, we adopted the Putrajaya Vision 2040, reaffirmed our original intention to benefit the people of the Asia-Pacific, and proposed the goal of building an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community. This year, we jointly formulated a vision implementation plan. We must advance the implementation of the 2040 vision and build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future that is open and inclusive, innovative growth, interconnection, and win-win cooperation. The focus is to do the following things.
First, promote anti-epidemic cooperation and economic recovery. At present, the situation of the new crown pneumonia epidemic is still severe, and the world economy is struggling to recover in fragility. To overcome the epidemic and restore economic growth at an early date is the most important task for all members of the Asia-Pacific region. It is necessary to scientifically respond to the epidemic, deepen international cooperation, promote vaccine research and development, production, and fair distribution, ensure the availability and affordability of vaccines in developing countries, and bridge the “immunity gap.” China announced that it will endeavor to provide 2 billion doses of vaccine throughout the year. So far, it has provided more than 1.7 billion doses, including free donations to more than 110 countries. Not long ago, on behalf of China at the sixteenth summit of the G20 leaders, I put forward a global vaccine cooperation initiative. China has made it clear that in the next three years, it will provide 3 billion U.S. dollars to support developing countries in fighting the epidemic and restoring economic and social development. China welcomes the APEC initiative to promote the circulation of key materials and the safe exchange of personnel, and will continue to provide support to the “Pandemic Response and Economic Recovery” sub-fund to help members recover and develop their economies.
Second, build an open Asia-Pacific economy. Openness is the lifeblood of Asia-Pacific cooperation. We must adhere to open regionalism, follow the 2040 vision as a guide, promote regional economic integration, and build a high-level Asia-Pacific free trade zone at an early date. We must practice true multilateralism, adhere to dialogue without confrontation, tolerance without exclusiveness, integration without decoupling, and firmly uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as its core. China supports the implementation of APEC’s “Strengthening Structural Reform Agenda” and “Service Industry Competitiveness Roadmap.” We look forward to the “Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement” coming into effect as scheduled next year, and have applied to join the “Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.”

Third, promote innovative growth and the development of the digital economy. Innovation is an important driving force leading the development of the world. We must adhere to the general direction of innovation-driven, ignite the new engine of the digital economy, and let the achievements of digital technology benefit more people in the Asia-Pacific region. It is necessary to implement the APEC “Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap” in a comprehensive and balanced manner to build an open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for innovation and productivity development. It is necessary to strengthen the construction of digital infrastructure, accelerate digital transformation, strive to bridge the “digital divide”, and promote the overall development of the digital economy. China has put forward an initiative to promote interconnection in the digital age, supports the strengthening of international cooperation in the digital economy, and has applied to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.
Fourth, to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. We must adhere to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, actively respond to climate change, promote a green and low-carbon transition, and strive to build a community of life on earth. China will strive to achieve carbon peaks by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, and support developing countries to develop green and low-carbon energy. China is willing to work with relevant countries to promote high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road”. It is necessary to fully implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so that more development results will benefit people of all countries in a fairer manner. In September of this year, I put forward the Global Development Initiative at the UN General Assembly, which aims to promote global development to a new stage of balance, coordination and inclusiveness, which is of great significance to the promotion of sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. Economic and technological cooperation is an important area of ​​cooperation in APEC, and investment should be increased to ensure that developing members benefit from it and continue to inject new impetus into the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
Dear colleagues!
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. It is the unswerving goal of the Communist Party of China to enable the 1.4 billion Chinese people to live a better life and promote the peace and development of mankind. At present, China has embarked on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. China will unswervingly expand its opening up to the outside world and share China’s development opportunities with the world and Asia-Pacific members.
There is a Maori proverb in New Zealand: “Success is never based on individuals, but on collectives.” China is willing to work with members of the Asia-Pacific region to actively promote the building of a community of shared future in the Asia-Pacific region and jointly open a new chapter in Asia-Pacific economic cooperation.