world-economy

China Pushes Regional Trade Unity at APEC Meeting as Commerce Minister Absent

China's trade representative Li Chenggang opened the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers' meeting in Suzhou on Friday, calling on regional economies to demonstrate unified support for continued cooperation. Li, a full minister who also serves as China's vice commerce minister, led the session in place of Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, who was attending to unspecified urgent official business. An attendee indicated the minister was expected to return. Li urged APEC to accelerate implementation of previously agreed consensus and serve as a guide for economic discussions. The meeting concludes Saturday and follows last week's Beijing summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. That summit yielded a Boeing aircraft order and a $17 billion annual U.S. agricultural purchasing commitment through 2028. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Rick Switzer heads the American delegation.