Openness remains essential to unlocking the growth potential of the Asia-Pacific region and deepening regional economic cooperation, as rising unilateralism and protectionism continue to challenge global trade and investment, government officials said on Sunday.
Speaking at the APEC China CEO Forum 2026 in Beijing, they said that Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies should stay committed to open cooperation and regional integration, while advancing connectivity projects and digital innovation to facilitate trade, improve supply chain resilience and create new growth opportunities for businesses across the region.
Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat in Singapore, said that APEC economies have identified a series of priority actions to restore growth momentum and strengthen regional economic cooperation.
These actions include accelerating progress toward the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, strengthening connectivity and supply chain resilience, investing in trade and logistics infrastructure, promoting market diversification, addressing nontariff barriers in food trade and advancing digital trade and transformation, Pedrosa said.
Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, called on APEC economies to identify more areas of common interest and strengthen open cooperation in industrial and supply chains.
