Suzhou, China – China’s International Trade Representative Li Chengang opened the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Trade Ministers’ Meeting on Friday, calling on regional economies to “send a strong message to the world” in support of cooperation.
Li said he would preside over the opening session on behalf of China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, who had “urgent official business”, according to a Chinese translation of his remarks by CNBC.
The role of the Trade Representative is fully ministerial. Mr. Li also serves as China’s vice minister of commerce.
The APEC trade ministers’ meeting, scheduled to end on Saturday, will take place about a week after US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing. China has placed its first major order for Boeing aircraft in nearly a decade and agreed to purchase $17 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products annually until 2028.
“Although APEC is not a forum for negotiations, it should play a leading role in economic and trade talks,” Li said.
“Regarding agreements that have already been reached, [APEC] We should accelerate implementation and see the results as soon as possible.”
Ambassador Rick Switzer, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, will lead the U.S. delegation to the conference.
The United States is one of the 12 founding members of APEC, which was launched in Australia in 1989 as an informal forum for discussions on free trade and economic cooperation. The multilateral trade organization currently has 21 members, including China, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei, which joined the forum in 1991.
