China's commitment to collaborations and opening-up widely applauded

President Xi Jinping has upheld the founding spirit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum with remarkable foresight and a strong sense of responsibility, amid a complex and volatile international landscape, experts said.

They applauded Xi's call to the region to take the lead in global development, and his pledge that China will continue to deepen reform and pursue high-quality development through high-level opening-up.

This commitment injects confidence and vitality into efforts to build a more dynamic and resilient Asia-Pacific community, while advancing shared global development and prosperity, they said.

Karori Singh, former director and emeritus fellow at the University of Rajasthan's South Asia Studies Centre in India, said that China is ushering the APEC region toward a central role in the global economic order, instilling coherence and guiding growth in an increasingly fragmented world.

He said the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting provides global leaders with an important platform to exchange views on trade, investment and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting APEC's indispensable role in promoting global growth and improving people's well-being.

"While addressing the world leaders, President Xi underscored the two main pillars of APEC — togetherness and opening-up. He enlisted five main points for deepening cooperation and 'Building a Sustainable Tomorrow' in the APEC region. All these five points collectively form the APEC trajectory for economic growth and well-being of the people in the region," Singh said.

He noted that China has become the world's largest trader in goods and the second-largest in services. The country has attracted foreign investment totaling around $700 billion, while its outbound investment continues to grow by about 5 percent annually, a remarkable performance that underscores its growing strength in both trade and investment.

Xi concluded his address in the spirit of multilateralism and opening-up and by emphasizing togetherness, he said.

Singh added that China's commitment to advancing APEC is also reflected in its enabling measures such as visa facilitation, tax incentives and the establishment of free trade zones, all of which stand in contrast to the protectionist and coercive trade policies seen in some parts of the world. These efforts demonstrate China's role as a reliable partner in promoting APEC's goals and deepening regional cooperation for shared prosperity.

Aruna Goonatilleke, president of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association, said that Xi's speech reflects China's enduring vision of partnership based on equality, mutual respect and shared progress.

"Xi's speech at APEC presents a visionary road map that reaffirms China's commitment to inclusive development. It offers strategic opportunities for Sri Lanka to engage in green, digital and regional growth initiatives, while further strengthening the long-standing foundation of friendship and mutual respect between the two countries," he said.

Goonatilleke said that Xi's proposal to advance regional integration through frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific provides Sri Lanka with long-term opportunities to strengthen its engagement with the region's most dynamic markets.

"Xi's emphasis on true multilateralism upholds the principle of fairness in international trade — an approach long appreciated by Sri Lanka, which seeks equitable access to global markets. This is a clear reflection of China's consistent advocacy for a balanced international order that protects smaller nations like Sri Lanka from economic marginalization," he said.

Wu Weijun, vice-chairman of Deloitte China, highlighted that one of the key messages from President Xi's address was the call for economic globalization that is both universally beneficial and inclusively shared.

"It means that China's economy will continue to be open, and it will continue to invest in research and technology, where the new quality productive forces will be available and beneficial for the development of Asia-Pacific economies," said Wu.

The call for sustaining world trade order will also be beneficial for all economies, as it is important for the next phase of development, he said.

Shin Kyung-sook, president of the Korea-China Economy and Culture Education Association, said the APEC meeting signifies a new chapter in the cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea.

"I hope that after President Xi's visit, the two countries can further develop their strategic cooperative partnership, and explore new collaboration opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence and sustainability," she said.

As China and the ROK are major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, a strengthening of their partnership will contribute to regional prosperity, she said.

Contact the writers at liujianqiao@chinadaily.com.cn