Chinese President Xi Jinping Defends Global Free Trade at APEC Summit Amid U.S. Protectionism
At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping positioned China as a champion of multilateralism and free trade. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump skipped the summit, signaling a shift toward protectionist policies. Xi urged nations to unite against volatility and pressed for supply chain stability and green energy cooperation. He emphasized that China remains open for investment and will uphold the global trading system. The summit, representing nearly 40% of the world's population, highlighted the deepening divide between China's push for global integration and the new U.S. administration's 'reciprocal terms' trade approach.
Key Points
- President Xi Jinping used the APEC forum to advocate for the multilateral trading system and global supply chain stability.
- The summit took place in Gyeongju, South Korea, with the U.S. President notably absent, represented instead by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
- APEC members account for approximately 40% of the global population and more than half of global goods trade.
- China promised to cut tariffs and increase imports of American farm products like soybeans to ease trade tensions.
Exam Facts
- The APEC summit was held in Gyeongju, South Korea.
- APEC countries represent about 40% of the world's population and over 50% of global trade.
- This was the first visit by a Chinese leader to South Korea in 11 years.
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