Columbia University Professor and economist Jeffery Sachs said he expects the building of modernized linkages to top the agenda for China at this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, set to be held in Lima, Peru from Nov 15 to 16.
Sachs told China Global Television (CGTN) that China's leg up in digitalization and modern communication infrastructure will lend the country leverage as a sharer of technologies.
"The digital revolution is very dramatic. China is already at not 5G, but 5.5G, because the network is 10 times faster than it was even when 5G was introduced a few years ago. And soon China will be leading 6G. Now, other countries want the technological advancement of the digital age as well," he said.
Noting the immense significance of the Belt and Road Initiative, Sachs pointed out that the global connectivity it is building is vital for both China and its many partners in the initiative.
"It's the idea that countries should invest jointly in connectivity, building new ports, building new fast rail lines, building transport linkages, building fiber linkages, building renewable energy linkages. So, when the leaders meet, they should talk about these real things. Those don't depend on the United States. So, you can still have the very important regional discussions," he said.
The economist also suggested that the summit is an opportunity to grow China's partnerships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Latin America, all benefiting from tech innovation and big markets.
"For example, China's relationship with ASEAN is extremely important for both regions I should say. ASEAN needs China, it needs the technology, it needs the connectivity, it needs the advancement, it needs the investment. For China, ASEAN is a natural, huge market of more than 750 million people. That should be discussed," said Sachs.
"The relationships between China and Latin America are very strong. China is the main trading partner of the Latin American members of APEC. This is surprising. It's not the United States. It's China that's the main trading partner. China buys a lot of food grain and feed grain from Latin America, a lot of natural resources. China is a provider of advanced technologies. So that's a very fruitful relationship, very important," he continued.
Held from Nov. 10 to Nov. 16 under the theme of "Empower, Include, Grow" in Lima, Peru, APEC brings together around 20,000 participants, including heads of state and dignitaries from 21 member economies across Asia, the Pacific, North America, and South America.
Digital shift, regional cooperation to be key topics for China at APEC summit: economist
China has pledged deeper ties with its neighbors to foster common development and stability, following a central conference on work related to neighboring countries, which saw Chinese ambassadors from around the region gather in Beijing this week.
The diplomats and experts attending the conference said the country is working to promote regional collaboration amid growing global uncertainties, strengthening its ties with its neighbors in a way that takes account of both the regional and the global context.
"The trade volume between China and Malaysia reached 212 billion U.S. dollars [in 2024], marking an 11.4 percent year-on-year increase. A large number of infrastructure projects including highways, bridges, ports, terminals and hydropower stations are being implemented across Malaysia. China-Malaysia cooperation epitomizes the broader collaboration between China and ASEAN. We are confident that under the strategic guidance of both countries' leaders, bilateral relations will reach new heights," said Ouyang Yujing, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia.
"ASEAN and China are geographically close and culturally connected, making ASEAN our important partner for development cooperation. Our combined population exceeds 2 billion, representing a massive market with sustained rapid economic growth in recent years and promising prospects," said Hou Yanqi, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN.
Other Chinese diplomats said China was being guided by the principles of amity, security, prosperity and win-win cooperation, to promote a shared future with neighboring countries, using its own development to spur regional growth.
This vision has led to concrete achievements, with a consensus on a shared future agreed with 17 neighboring states, Belt and Road cooperation agreements in effect with 25, and 18 regional nations now counting China as their largest trade partner. These deepening political and economic ties have cleared a path toward warm neighborly relations and mutual prosperity, according to other ambassadors.
"China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with all Central Asian countries and signed Belt and Road cooperation documents. We are jointly committed to building a community with a shared future," said Han Chunlin, China's Ambassador to Kazakhstan.
"The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as a pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative, has attracted over 25 billion U.S. dollars in direct investment and created 230,000 jobs. It has not only elevated China-Pakistan cooperation but also contributed to Pakistan's economic and social development," said Jiang Zaidong, the Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan.
As the global challenges brought by unilateralism and economic protectionism grow, China remains steadfast in advancing its vision of a shared future, strengthening partnerships with neighboring countries to anchor stability and renew hope, according to China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong.
"We must steadfastly uphold fairness and justice, adhere to true multilateralism, safeguard the interests of developing countries, maintain the authority of international law, and firmly oppose 'might makes right'," he said.
"Our world has become highly interdependent. Attempts at 'decoupling' or forced division are not only impossible but also go against historical trends. We must promote shared development through global cooperation. This represents the true exemplar of major-country responsibility," said Wang Fan, president of China Foreign Affairs University.
China pledges deeper cooperation with neighbors to foster stability
