On 24 November 2024, the 35th APEC Ministerial Meeting was held in Lima, Peru. The meeting witnessed discussions centred on supporting the multilateral trading system, building Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area and trade facilitation, in preparation for the upcoming 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting to be held on November 16. Li Yongjie, Deputy China International Trade Representative from MOFCOM, attended and addressed the meeting.

Li Yongjie stated that APEC members should push for the WTO to play its role as the main channel for making international trade and economic rules, development-oriented outcomes of MC14, and early resumption of dispute settlement mechanisms. It is also necessary to incorporate investment facilitation agreements into the multilateral legal framework as soon as possible, enhance the stability and resilience of the global industrial and supply chains, and achieve more progress in agricultural, trade and environmental issues.

Li Yongjie stressed that it is necessary to deem the building of Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area as the main channel for improving regional economic integration, maintain the correct direction of regional economic integration, continue to promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, and oppose protectionism and unilateralism. It is advisable to promote expansion of the membership of relevant trade and economic agreements in the region and strengthen synergy, actively carry out information-sharing and capacity-building, and enhance the level of mutual opening up of all parties. The exploration of new rules should be open and inclusive, and take into consideration the interests of developing economies and various groups of people.

Li Yongjie pointed out that the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made the decision of deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. China will steadily expand institutional opening up and continuously optimize the environment for opening up and cooperation. China is ready to share with all parties development opportunities brought by Chinese modernization, jointly promote the development of Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area, and build an Asia-Pacific community that is open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful.