On May 22-23, MOFCOM hosted the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (MRT) in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Member economies had in-depth discussions on advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), supporting the WTO, strengthening digital cooperation, and developing a green economy. The meeting issued the 2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting Joint Statement, or the Suzhou Statement, and adopted the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services, achieving fruitful outcomes. The Director General of MOFCOM’s Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs interpreted the relevant outcomes.

Q: The meeting adopted a joint statement, also known as the Suzhou Statement. What is the significance of this statement?

A: The Suzhou Statement issued at this meeting is the first ministerial-level outcome document of the APEC “China Year,” and it is named after the host city for the first time in 12 years. Its significance can be summarized in three aspects:

First, it boosts confidence in regional economic and trade cooperation and provides stronger support for economic recovery in the Asia Pacific region. The successful conclusion of the Suzhou Statement sends a clear signal that all economies are committed to cooperation for win-win outcomes, injecting new growth momentum into the Asia-Pacific economy as it forges ahead under pressure. With the global economic recovery remaining weak and demand persistently sluggish, the Asia-Pacific region, as an engine of global economic growth, urgently needs a clear and coherent direction for cooperation. Economies need to work together to unlock growth potential. The Suzhou Statement focuses on emerging areas such as digital trade, green and low-carbon development, supply chain connectivity, and the upgrade of trade in services, building consensus among the 21 APEC economies, identifying priority directions and implementation pathways for regional economic and trade cooperation. This will help fully unleash the potential of regional economic and trade cooperation, better leverage the advantages of Asia-Pacific’s supersized market, offset downward pressures on the global economy, and provide solid support for the sustained and stable recovery of the Asia-Pacific economy.

Second, it contributes practical Asia-Pacific solutions and helps improve the global economic and trade governance system. Against the backdrop of rising unilateralism and protectionism and severe challenges to the global economic and trade governance system, the Suzhou Statement proposes an Asia-Pacific approach to addressing the difficulties. All parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing regional economic integration and the development of the FTAAP, actively responded to the need for WTO reform, took into account the differentiated demands of developed and developing economies, and adhered to inclusive, mutually beneficial and equitable development. In response to global challenges such as supply chain disruptions, fragmented rules, lack of digital governance, and green trade barriers, the Statement sets out practical and feasible regional cooperation plans. These will provide important references for building a stable and well-functioning international economic and trade order, and continuously enhance the Asia-Pacific region’s voice and influence in global economic and trade governance.

Third, it showcases the appeal of openness of the host city and helps China advance high-standard opening up. The meeting took Suzhou, a modern and open city, as a window to fully demonstrate China’s achievements in opening up. In addition, through this high-level international economic and trade event, Suzhou deeply engaged with Asia-Pacific economic and trade rules, connected with high-quality global economic and trade resources, and actively aligned its industries, trade and services with international high-standard economic and trade rules. Its successful regional opening practice has demonstrated China’s firm commitment and policy orientation to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and to continuously expanding opening up.