JAKARTA - Trade ministers from 21 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathered in Suzhou, China amid concerns over the increasing unilateralism and protectionism of the US government's "America First" agenda.
During the two-day forum, APEC trade officials discussed efforts to promote free trade in the Asia-Pacific region as well as deepening collaboration on digital transformation based on artificial intelligence (AI).
China, as the chair of APEC this year, hopes that the meeting will contribute to the APEC leaders' summit scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China, next November.
China's chief trade negotiator Li Chenggang said the world is currently undergoing "accelerated changes" that have not occurred in the past century.
"Unilateralism is increasing rapidly and economic globalization is seriously affected," Li said in his opening speech, reported by ANTARA from Kyodo, Saturday, May 23.
"The more severe the storm, the more we must cling to the effort to find a common ground," he said, calling on APEC members to overcome difficulties and restore confidence in the global economy.
Li also emphasized that the value of APEC lies in its ability to unite various economies with diverse needs, leaving behind a win-lose mindset, and jointly exploring interests through an objective, rational, and pragmatic approach.
The 21 APEC economic members include the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, as well as Latin American countries.
From Japan, Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa and Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Horii also attended the meeting.
China-Japan tensions are still high regarding Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement on the possibility of a Taiwan conflict in November last year.
Before the hearing began, Akazawa said he was ready to discuss various issues with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao if there was an opportunity.
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