China to build Asia-Pacific partnership with APEC members

BEIJING - China is willing to build an Asia-Pacific partnership with APEC members that will lead future cooperation in the region, said State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Wednesday.

Yang made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the third Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM3) of the APEC 2014 in Beijing.

Noting that the Asia-Pacific region is an important strategic position, Yang said China cherishes the opportunity of hosting the APEC 2014 and is willing to build with APEC members an Asia-Pacific partnership that will lead future cooperation.

With 40 percent of the world's population, 57 percent of the total world economy and 46 percent of the total global trade, the 21 APEC members have established all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging cooperation which plays an active role in promoting common prosperity, according to Yang.

Various sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, emerging new initiatives and ideas within the Asia-Pacific region reflect the strong desire of all sides to strengthen cooperation, he said.

The Asia-Pacific economies will play an increasingly important role in promoting world peace and development, he said, noting the economies are reforming their development patterns and the international status of the economies will continue to be enhanced.

As the APEC members only have 80 days to go before the opening of the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM), Yang called on all members to promote cooperation, adhere to opening up and inclusiveness and push for the consensus on the outcome of the AELM.

He called for positive progress in the areas of Asia-Pacific economic integration, innovative development, promoting reform, finding new areas of growth and strengthening connectivity, aiming to make more contributions for lasting development, prosperity and progress in the Asia-Pacific region.

As a member of the Asia-Pacific family, China views the Asia-Pacific region as a permanent home and foundation of its development and prosperity, said Yang.

China is committed to promoting the Asia-Pacific development through its own development and provide new opportunities for the region's prosperity through its own reform and opening up, he said.

China has always been thinking about ways to make new contributions for deepening the Asia-Pacific economic integration and pushing for more substantial outcomes of the AELM, he said.

China is confident it will be a good host for the meeting, he said.

Beijing is hosting the SOM3 and related meetings for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing from Aug. 6 to 21, including some 100 sessions covering topics such as trade, investment, agriculture, food and anti-corruption.

One task for the many SOM3 committees and working group meetings is to deepen consensus, implement cooperation initiatives, and make preparations for the outcome document of the AELM.

With the theme of "Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership", the 22nd AELM will be held in Beijing on Nov. 10 to 11.