What’s new: Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against unilateralism, protectionism and a Cold War mentality as he arrived in Thailand Thursday for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
“The Asia-Pacific is no one’s backyard and should not become an arena for big-power competition,” Xi said. “No attempt to wage a new Cold War will ever be allowed.”
The Chinese president also called for deepening regional economic and security cooperation. The Asia-Pacific region has reached a critical stage of post-pandemic recovery as economies face challenges from distorted supply chains, tight supplies of food and energy, and mounting inflation pressures, Xi said in written remarks to a gathering of business leaders.
“We need to strengthen cooperation and support each other to push forward” with the regional economic recovery, Xi said.
“We should follow a path of openness and inclusiveness,” Xi said in the speech, advocating increased regional economic integration and construction of “stable and unimpeded” supply chains.
The context: The Chinese president launched a flurry of in-person meetings with world leaders this week after nearly three-year of limited diplomatic activities during the pandemic.
Before arriving at Bangkok for the APEC summit, Xi attended the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, where he met with leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Upon arrival in Bangkok Thursday, he met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bob.simison@caixin.com)
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