Chinese vice minister calls for efforts to put forward FTAAP

DA NANG - Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Baodong on Wednesday called for efforts to push forward the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) under the guidance of the Asia-Pacific partnership.

Li made the remarks during the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting, one of a series of meetings of APEC's annual economic leaders' week.

As the most important economic cooperation mechanism in the region, APEC has taken the lead in regional cooperation by promoting regional economic integration, exploring new cooperation areas and expanding development potentials, said Li.

APEC economies should strengthen efforts to boost connectivity, promote innovative and inclusive growth and build an open economy, Li added.

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held last month has set the blueprint for China's future development, Li noted, adding that China's economy is enjoying steady and sustainable growth, which is set to create new opportunities and inject new energy into the development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen told the meeting that under the current situation, APEC members should uphold the authority and efficacy of the World Trade Organization, and send a positive signal for the organization' Eleventh Ministerial Conference scheduled for the end of this year.

Joint efforts should be made to promote the development of FTAAP, and deepen cooperation in areas such as global value chain and supply chain, Internet economy as well as small and medium enterprises, so as to inject new energy into the Asia-Pacific economy, he added.

Participants of the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday discussed issues including regional and global economic situation, innovative and inclusive growth, regional economic integration and future cooperation plans, in the run-up to the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled on Nov 10-11.