President Xi urges Asia-Pacific integration

As regional economies face difficulties related to disrupted supply chains, strained food and energy supplies and mounting inflationary pressure, Xi emphasized the need to strengthen solidarity and enhance mutual support and assistance to enable the Asia-Pacific to be a leader in boosting global economic recovery.

In order to bolster the foundation for peaceful development, Xi called on countries to abide by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, pursue the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and jointly reject the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation.

"We need to build an Asia-Pacific security architecture to create conditions for ensuring economic development and durable peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

Xi called for forging a new partnership of unity and equality in the Asia-Pacific region — a partnership that will be balanced and inclusive.

"We need to deepen cooperation within the APEC framework, advance the building of a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific, ... achieve better alignment among the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, and build an open Asia-Pacific economy," he said.

Xi urged the promotion of higher-standard connectivity. "Unilateralism and protectionism should be rejected by all; any attempt to politicize and weaponize economic and trade relations should also be rejected by all," he said.

Xi also reiterated China's commitment to peaceful development, saying that to follow the path of peaceful development is a strategic choice made by China in the fundamental interests of the Chinese people.

"We will strive to safeguard world peace and development as we pursue our own development, and we will make a greater contribution to world peace and development through our own development," Xi said.

China stands ready to provide more resources for global development cooperation and work with all other parties to build a global community of development, Xi said.

Raymund Chao, chairman for the Asia-Pacific region and China of professional services provider PwC, said Xi's proposal for advancing more inclusive and resilient global development with benefits shared for all is greatly important and positive in promoting world economic recovery, stability and growth.

Ukrist Pathmanand, director of the Mekong Research Center of the Institute of Asian Studies at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, said Xi's idea for greater Asia-Pacific regional economic integration is important, as the region needs a quick socioeconomic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that Xi's speech aligns with Thailand's Bio-Circular-Green national strategy, and he noted that the BCG economic model is an overarching theme of this year's APEC meeting.

Yang Han in Bangkok contributed to this story.