Joint effort urged to meet challenges facing Asia-Pacific
China DailyPresident Xi Jinping and other leaders and representatives from APEC member economies for the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting pose for a group photo at the Lima Convention Center in Lima, Peru, Nov 16, 2024. Addressing the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, Xi called on Asia-Pacific countries to act in solidarity and cooperation to meet the challenges facing Asia-Pacific cooperation, such as rising tendencies of geopolitics, unilateralism and protectionism. "A Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific is an ambitious vision for regional economic integration and is critical for long-term development and prosperity of our region," Xi said in the speech. Ten years ago, a historic decision to kick off the process for a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific was made at the gathering of APEC economic leaders in Beijing. "Together with the relevant parties, we will seek to discuss trade agreements in digital and green areas and steadily expand the globally oriented network of high-standard free trade areas," Xi said.