Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his commitment to defending global free trade at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Friday, where he emerged as the central figure following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to skip the event.
The annual forum, hosted this year in Gyeongju, South Korea, convened a day after Trump left the country.
His earlier meeting with Xi had resulted in several agreements designed to ease the ongoing trade tensions that have unsettled the global economy.
While the bilateral talks between Xi and Trump drew significant attention, the U.S. president’s absence from APEC once again highlighted his resistance to large multilateral gatherings — a move critics say could undermine America’s global influence in a forum representing nearly 40% of the world’s population and over half of global trade.
Addressing the APEC opening session, Xi urged member nations to unite in the face of global uncertainty. “The more turbulent the times, the more we must work together,” he said, stressing that the world is undergoing “rapid changes and increasing volatility.”
Xi underscored the need to maintain stable global supply chains, countering U.S. efforts to economically decouple from China. He also called for deeper collaboration in green industries and clean energy development.
In a written address to the APEC CEO Summit, Xi reiterated that China remains open to foreign investment and is firmly committed to a multilateral trading system.
“Those who build a presence in the Chinese market will seize key opportunities in global competition,” he wrote. “Investing in China means investing in the future.”
Representing Washington, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. is working to rebalance trade by ensuring “fair and reciprocal terms” and by fostering more resilient supply networks that lessen reliance on vulnerable sectors.
The summit also marked Xi’s first visit to South Korea in 11 years. On the sidelines, he met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
During his meeting with Takaichi, Xi called for building a “constructive and stable relationship for a new era,” while the Japanese leader expressed her desire to strengthen bilateral ties and personal engagement with Xi.
Xi is expected to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday, with talks likely to focus on North Korea’s nuclear program and regional security cooperation.
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