President Xi Jinping urges APEC members to safeguard multilateral trading system

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system.

"We must practice true multilateralism, and enhance the authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core," Xi said while addressing the first session of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The Chinese president put forward a five-point proposal for promoting a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and building an Asia-Pacific community.

In addition to calling for safeguarding the multilateral trading system, Xi also urged joint efforts to build an open regional economic environment, maintain the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, promote digitalization and greening of trade, and promote universally beneficial and inclusive development.

"We must join hands rather than part ways, and strengthen our links rather than sever them," Xi said at the session. "We should vigorously expand our common interests, and support the open development of supply chains."

China always pursues the basic state policy of opening up, and has taken real steps to promote an open world economy, Xi said.

He said over the past five years, China has ranked as the world's largest trader in goods and the second largest in services, has attracted more than $700 billion in foreign investment in total, and its outbound investment has increased by over five percent annually on average.

China has shortened the negative list for foreign investment, applied a unilateral visa-free policy to more countries, is steadily expanding voluntary and unilateral opening up, and has actively aligned with high-standard international economic and trade rules through the country's 22 pilot free trade zones, Xi added.

"China's door to the world will not close; it will only open wider and wider," he said.

The session, themed "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow," was chaired by ROK President Lee Jae-myung.

The 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting kicked off in Gyeongju on Friday, with leaders gathering to seek stronger economic cooperation and chart a shared path toward a sustainable future.

Established in 1989, APEC has become a dynamic engine of economic growth and one of the Asia-Pacific's most important regional forums.

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Full text: Xi's speech at first session of 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the first session of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, October 31, 2025. /Xinhua)