Chinese president stresses need to stop politicizing trade

WORLD, Nov. 18 (YPA) – Speaking on the sidelines of the APEC summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the need for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries to resist politicizing trade and economic issues and preventing them from being turned into weapons.

According to China Central Television, Xi Jinping said that “the since the establishment of the economic leaders’ regular meeting mechanism, APEC has always stood at the global forefront of openness and development.”

He further stressed the need to “support free and open trade and investment, maintain the multilateral trading system that focuses on and promotes the global trade system, and maintain stability and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains.”

“We must counter attempts to politicize trade and economic issues,” the Chinese leader said.

The Chinese president said China’s development goal is to provide a decent life for its people, not to turn anyone away.

E.M