On the morning of November 15, 2024 local time, President Xi Jinping delivered a written speech entitled "Keeping Abreast of the Trend of the Times and Jointly Promoting Prosperity Around the World" at the APEC CEO Summit held in Lima.
Xi Jinping pointed out that Asia-Pacific countries are deeply woven into the fabric of economic globalization. They are now an interdependent community with common interests and a shared future. On the other hand, the world is in a new period of turbulence and transformation. Economic globalization faces a grave challenge akin to sailing up a river - either forging ahead or drifting downstream. Where will the Asia-Pacific economy be going? It is a decision Asia-Pacific countries must make.
Xi Jinping pointed out that economic globalization is an objective requirement of growing social productive forces and a natural outcome of advancement in science and technology. Despite headwinds and undertows, economic globalization has always been the general trend. The attempt to break up the interdependence of the world under all sorts of pretexts is nothing but backpedaling. Tougher times call for greater confidence. The Asia-Pacific should steer economic globalization in the right direction, join hands to promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and take economic globalization to a new phase that is more dynamic, inclusive and sustainable to the benefit of various countries and communities.
First, the Asia-Pacific should take innovation as the driving force for stronger growth of the world economy. Advances in science and technology should benefit the entire humanity. The Asia-Pacific should help developing countries with their capacity building in science and technology and promote the global flow of knowledge and technologies.
Second, the Asia-Pacific should keep pace with the times and reform the system of global economic governance. The Asia-Pacific should follow the principles of "plan together, build together and benefit together", continuously enhance the representation and voice of the Global South, and ensure that all countries enjoy equal rights, equal opportunities and equal rules in conducting international economic cooperation. The Asia-Pacific should push for an open world economic system, and keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth.
Third, the Asia-Pacific should always take the people-centered approach and seek to settle imbalances in development. Global prosperity and stability cannot be achieved when the rich get richer and the poor poorer. True development means the common development of all countries. The Asia-Pacific should pursue economic globalization that is people-centered and delivers more balanced development and more equal opportunities, so that different countries, classes and communities can all benefit from development.
Xi Jinping stressed that over the past 30 years, Asia-Pacific economies have maintained robust growth and created the remarkable Asia-Pacific miracle. The success of the Asia-Pacific is due to its firm commitment to peace and stability in the region, to its continuous practices of true multilateralism and open regionalism, and to its deep faith in the trend toward economic globalization as well as mutual benefit and mutual success. The Asia-Pacific should remain the locomotive of economic globalization, stay on the right course and seek to break new ground at the same time. While further burnishing the Asia-Pacific hallmark of openness and inclusiveness, the Asia-Pacific should make new brand-building efforts to foster a green and digital Asia-Pacific, build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, and usher in another 30 golden years of development for the region.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted a comprehensive plan for further deepening reform across the board to advance Chinese modernization. China will deepen reform comprehensively and continue to provide robust momentum for the world economy. China has full confidence in meeting the growth targets for this year and remaining the biggest engine of world economic growth. China will advance high-quality development, nurture new quality productive forces in line with actual conditions, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continue to lead the efforts to improve the performance of the world economy. China will stay firmly on the path of green development and continue to be an important force for global green transition and an important part of the global effort to address climate change. China will build new, open and higher-standard economic systems, introduce more policies for voluntary and unilateral opening up, expand its globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas, and continue to share China's development opportunities with the world.
Xi Jinping stressed, "China's development is inseparable from the Asia-Pacific, and it will in turn further benefit the region. As long as we act in the spirit of openness and connectivity, the vast Pacific will become a thoroughfare for more prosperity and growth. Let us enhance our solidarity and cooperation, stand up together to the global challenges, and form a mighty force for the common prosperity of the world and a brighter future for humanity."
