Rod Eddington AO, chairman of Australia and New Zealand JP Morgan, said he was optimistic about China's economy.
"China is going through an important change at the moment. Their focus is moved from export-led economy to domestic consumption. All changes will take some time," he said.
CHINA'S PLEDGES
During the APEC meeting, Xi announced that China has established and put into operation the Silk Road Fund, and is now working actively with more than 50 countries to prepare for the launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
He also urged relative parties to speed up the realization of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and maximize the openness and inclusiveness of free trade arrangements.
The Belt and Road initiative is a fantastic idea and an acknowledgement of China's important role in the Asia-Pacific region, said Juan Francisco Raffo, chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
With the introduction of the Belt and Road initiative and the AIIB, China provides countries along the silk routes with opportunities to improve their inter-connectivity, thus opening broad markets for Asian and European countries, said Benito Lim, political science professor of Ateneo de Manila University.
China's Belt and Road initiative will be essential for bridging the massive infrastructure spending deficit in Asia, said Richard Javad Heydarian, a specialist in Asian affairs and assistant professor in political science at De La Salle University.
China is in a unique position to improve inter-connectivity and improve the overall infrastructure landscape in Asia, he said.
The establishment of the AIIB has brought confidence and hopes for the the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, as it will provide financial support for major projects in the region, said Bambang Suryono, president of the Nanyang ASEAN Foundation based in Jakarta.
Economic integration in Asia-Pacific can not be fulfilled in a short term. Nevertheless, it has made rapid progress with the contributions made by the annual APEC meetings, said Chito Romana, a Filipino expert on China issues.
Hoang Van Dung, first vice executive president of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told reporters that China plays an important role in world trade.
China is good at manufacturing and infrastructure construction, especially the construction of roads, seaports and airports, he said, expressing the hope that China can help APEC economies improve their infrastructure facilities.
