China spearheads APEC initiatives for regional integration(2)

CHINA'S OBLIGATION

Why should China attach so much importance to building a more integrated Asia-Pacific?

Liu Chenyang, director of the APEC research center of Nankai University in Tianjin City, said that during the past three decades more of reform and opening up, China has established close connections with the rest of the world, especially the Asia-Pacific region.

"Currently, eight out of the ten most important trade partners for China are APEC members," he said. "China has been moving up the global value chain and will be acting as a connecting link between countries at both the lower and higher ends of the value chain for a certain period of time in the near future."

Liu added that a more integrated Asia-Pacific will also contribute to the global economy as a whole.

"China has a big role to play in forming the 'big family' of Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific region is vast in territory, and there are development gaps between different economies. The socialist path with Chinese characteristics has set up a new example for development," said Yu Pei, an expert with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"China will continue carrying out its obligation to guard the prosperity and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, which is also determined by the traditional Chinese culture of pursuing harmony in diversity and a win-win situation," he said.

President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Friday for the G20 Summit in Brisbane and state visits to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. The Summit is slated for Nov. 15 and 16, while the state visits will take place from Nov. 16 to 23.

Yu said this is another trip that is expected to enhance cooperation between China and Asia-Pacific countries.