CGTN global poll: China expected to boost Asia-Pacific cooperation

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). As the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting approaches, a survey conducted by CGTN targeting global netizens shows that 86.4 percent of the respondents praised APEC for its remarkable achievements in promoting regional economic growth and deepening regional cooperation. This has effectively improved the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in the Asia-Pacific region, making the Asia-Pacific region the most active geo-economic bloc with the greatest growth potential in the world.

As the "locomotive" of world economic growth, the higher economic growth rate of APEC economies is mainly driven by the increase in their internal demand and mutual trade. The prosperity and development history of Asia-Pacific shows that only cooperation can lead to development, and non-cooperation is the biggest risk. "Decoupling and breaking the chain" will not benefit anyone. In the survey, 85.2 percent of the respondents believed that countries should adhere to multilateralism and economic globalization, and work together in building open economy and a framework for regional cooperation; 89.5 percent of the respondents thought that countries should oppose all forms of protectionism, adhere to open development and promote the construction of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area in an open and inclusive spirit.

At a time when global economic growth is sluggish and regional cooperation is facing challenges, the Asia-Pacific region bears greater responsibilities in this era. The theme of APEC 2024 is "Empowerment, Inclusion, and Growth". All parties generally expect the Asia-Pacific region to uphold the original intention of cooperation, respond to the call of the times and work together to meet challenges. In the survey, 93.7 percent of the respondents called on all parties in the Asia-Pacific region to forge consensus and build an Asia-Pacific community of shared future featuring openness and inclusiveness, innovative growth, connectivity and win-win cooperation; 88.5 percent of the respondents considered that developed economies should provide more support and assistance to the Global South countries and achieve the common development of the Asia-Pacific region; 90.1 percent of the respondents believed that in the face of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, countries in the Asia-Pacific region should innovate development strategies, adhere to green development and spark new surges of growth through innovation.

APEC is the first regional economic cooperation organization that China has joined since the reform and opening up. Joining APEC is an important milestone for China to deepen its participation in economic globalization. China's development has benefited from the Asia-Pacific region and it has also given back to the Asia-Pacific region with its own development. In the survey, 95.1 percent of the respondents highly affirmed that China has continued to play the role of "propellant" in APEC economic cooperation, praising China for its unswerving expansion of opening up to the outside world, its active participation in APEC affairs and its important contribution to the prosperity and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

The survey was published on CGTN's platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian. Within 24 hours, 6,071 overseas netizens participated in the survey and expressed their opinions.