Why Philippines expects China to attend APEC 2015
- By Zhang Jingwei
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 17, 2015
In China's eyes, the Philippines' stand on South China Sea is just like an innocent child, with whom China can't be bothered arguing.
The APEC Summit is closely tied to China's core benefits. During this year's meeting, China will introduce the implementation of the Beijing Summit of last year. No matter whether the host county is the Philippines, Japan or the United States, China will always be an active participant.
On Nov. 9, China's Foreign Ministry announced President Xi would attend the G20 summit from Nov. 14 to 16 in Antalya, Turkey, and then attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting from Nov. 17 to 19 in Manila at the invitation of Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The Philippines has said it will not discuss the South China Sea issue at the meeting, showing that the Philippines' government has also realized the South China Sea issue will make trouble and intensify conflict only. The attitude - not to provoke any political issue at what is intended to be an economic meeting - is welcomed.
Asia-Pacific area is currently the most dynamic economic region all over the world, to promote economic and trade integration is beneficial to all relevant countries. We should practically promote the construction of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) which was advocated by the United States at the APEC summit in 2006 in Hanoi.
At present, there is a range of bilateral and multi-lateral free trade areas being negotiated or have been completed in the Asia-Pacific area. Only by removing obstacles of geopolitics and integrating all those free trade areas, could the FTAAP become reality in near future.
The writer is a researcher of The Charhar Institute.
The article was first published in Chinese and translated by Lin Liyao.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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