Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday in the capital of Peru that the Asia-Pacific region must promote greater free trade, at a time when cooperation in the region faces “growing protectionism,” according to Chinese state media.
This occurs in the midst of Donald Trump’s imminent return to the presidency of the United States, that looms over the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), which is taking place in Lima.
“We must dismantle the high wall that divides the flow of trade, investment, technology and services, and maintain a stable and fluid industrial supply chain,” Xi said Saturday, according to a transcript of the speech published by state broadcaster CCTV.
The speech was part of Xi’s week-long diplomatic tour of South America that began a few days ago.
He arrived in Peru to participate in the APEC summit, which included the inauguration of a megaport on the Pacific coast. Xi is expected to meet US President Joe Biden for their first talks in seven months later on Saturday.
Xi to address Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro next weekwhere he will remain for a state visit to Brazil as Beijing seeks to expand trade and influence on the continent.
