Xinhua Commentary: The Asia-Pacific should resist protectionism, renew commitment to openness

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- With global economic growth encountering headwinds amid rising protectionism, the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in South Korea arrives at a critical time.

The world is watching whether the Asia-Pacific -- the most dynamic and interconnected region on the planet -- can once again demonstrate its resolve to choose opening-up and cooperation over isolation and division.

The Asia-Pacific has been a crucial driver of global growth in recent decades. Home to one-third of the world's population and nearly half of global trade, the region is defined by economic diversity and shared aspirations for development.

As the world grapples with mounting uncertainties and rising protectionist tendencies, the Asia-Pacific inevitably feels the impact. Trade barriers are stacking up, geopolitical rivalries are deepening, and the multilateral trading system is under increasing strain.

Yet amid these challenges, the region's enduring commitment to openness, partnership and dialogue stands out as a stabilizing force. It reminds the world that cooperation, not confrontation, remains the most compelling path toward shared prosperity.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's largest free trade arrangement that groups 15 Asia-Pacific economies, also stands as a landmark achievement in support of multilateralism. Most recently, China and ASEAN signed the Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Protocol, further strengthening the region's globally oriented network of free trade zones.

The Asia-Pacific's success has been built not merely on economic vitality but also on a collective belief in integration and mutual benefit.

From the manufacturing hubs of East Asia to the emerging digital economies of Southeast Asia, regional integration has created unprecedented prosperity. The success story was built on openness: open markets, open dialogue, as well as open exchange of goods, capital and ideas.

This win-win model has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, transformed developing economies into global innovators, and deepened trust through collaboration. To retreat from that foundation now would risk undermining not only regional stability but also global recovery.

Attempts to de-couple -- whether in trade, technology, or finance -- ignore the deep economic interdependence that defines today's Asia-Pacific. Supply chains crisscross borders, production networks span industries, and innovation thrives on cross-border collaboration.

Seeking to sever these linkages is as wrong as it is destructive. Those protectionist attempts would only weaken efficiency, raise costs, and suffocate innovation. Moreover, decoupling runs counter to the very spirit of partnership that has guided Asia-Pacific development for decades.

The region has repeatedly shown that cooperation and openness deliver shared prosperity. The APEC forum should continue to serve as an inclusive platform for advancing free and fair trade, digital cooperation and sustainable development.

China, steadfast in its commitment to true multilateralism and open regionalism, will continue to champion the charge toward a more inclusive Asia-Pacific. Beijing's proposals like the Belt and Road Initiative have deepened connectivity across Asia and beyond, building infrastructure, facilitating logistics, and strengthening people-to-people exchanges. From ports in Southeast Asia to railways in Central Asia, these projects are reshaping regional development and fostering greater interdependence.

The lessons of history are clear: when economies build walls, they invite stagnation and mistrust; when they build bridges, they can give birth to shared opportunity.

The Asia-Pacific's strength lies in its economic diversity and interconnectedness. By rejecting protectionism and resisting decoupling, the region can reaffirm its leadership in promoting free trade, innovation and shared development. In doing so, it not only safeguards its own future but also offers the world a model of how cooperation can prevail over confrontation and isolation. ■