Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is at a critical phase of development, and all economies should be responsible and carry out the initial of aim of APEC and drive Asia-Pacific development, a Chinese official said on Sunday. 

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying (File photo: fmprc.gov.cn)

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks at a news briefing when answering a question related to US Vice President Mike Pence's charge that China is conducting so-called “debt diplomacy” with Pacific island countries. 

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting has kicked off in Papua New Guinea. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a series of speeches. Xi talked about China’s point of views on the world economic situation and proposed important propositions to strengthen international cooperation, improve global governance, and address common challenges.

His key message is that both international cooperation and regional cooperation should adhere to openness, development, tolerance, innovation, and rules, in order to cope with common challenges and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

These propositions conform to the general trend of the world economy and the development of global economic governance, conform to the general aspirations of the international community, and reflect the vision and leaders’ role of big economies, and are highly endorsed by all economies.

“We have noticed that the US made related comments and we believe that APEC is at a critical standing point for development. All economies should be responsible and constructive, while carrying out the initial aim of APEC to drive Asia-Pacific development,” Hua stressed. 

“To deal with international issues, we need to follow the rules that we developed together. In the face of differences, instead of artificially setting up barriers or holding a mindset of winning, all countries need to start negotiation dialogues seeking resolution,” Hua said. 

“For regional cooperation, be it the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, or the Atlantic Ocean, all regions could be a stage for cooperation and mutual benefit, rather than a geographical competition,” she added. 

“On the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, China has carried out good cooperation with many countries in the world, including mutually beneficial cooperation with developing countries under the framework of South-South cooperation. 

While deepening cooperation, China has upheld the concept of righteousness and sincerity, and has provided assistance to local economic and social development within its capabilities,” Hua said. 

“This help does not attach any political conditions and fully respects the decisions of the recipient governments and people. No developing country is facing debt difficulties because of cooperation with China. 

On the contrary, cooperation with China has helped these countries improve their capability and level of self-development and improve the lives of local people. Therefore, cooperation with China has been widely welcomed by the governments and people of developing countries. On these issues, the international community, especially the developing countries that have mutually beneficial cooperation with China, have their own opinions,” she said.

“Being an important member of the Asia-Pacific region, China supports APEC to continue playing an active role in enhancing regional cooperation and accelerating common development,” she said.

“We are willing to work with all economies to strengthen partnership and build up communities of shared destiny, while fine-tuning new international relations of mutual respect, fairness, justice, cooperation and win-win cooperation, working together to create peace, stability and common development in the Asia-Pacific region,” she said. 

“We would like to suggest that the countries concerned mind their own businesses, and be consistent with their own words and deeds, truly treat all countries equally, respect the right of other countries to choose their development path according to their own national conditions, and truly do something good for developing countries,” Hua said.