Asia-Pacific nations must "uphold multilateralism", Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday, countering US President Donald Trump's message at a summit that the United States would stay out of trade deals that surrender its sovereignty.
Globalisation is an irreversible trend, but the world must work to make it more balanced and inclusive, Xi told leaders gathered in the Vietnamese resort city of Danang for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.
His comments came moments after Trump told the same audience the United States would not tolerate chronic trade abuses from partners.
Should we steer economic globalisation, or should we dither and stall in the face of challenge? Should we jointly advance regional cooperation or should we go our separate ways? Openness brings progress, while self-seclusion leaves one behind.Xi Jinping, President, China
During the past year, Xi has positioned China as a defender of globalisation in speeches around the world, contrasting himself with Trump, who has pursued his "America First" agenda, and pulled the United States out of the regional Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal.
Trump's predecessors saw the deal as a way for the United States, and not China, to write Asia's trade rules.
Having just concluded a state visit to China, Trump said the United States was ready to make a bilateral deal with any country in the Indo-Pacific region, but only on the basis of "mutual respect and mutual benefit".
But Xi’s efforts to seize the mantle of free trade have rung hollow to critics of China, who argue it erects more market barriers to foreign companies, using state-driven industrial plans, than any major economy.
In Danang, Xi said China would "significantly ease market access" for foreign firms, and all businesses registered in China would be treated as equals.
The 11 countries still party to the TPP have been looking for a way forward for the deal on the sidelines of the APEC meeting. Japan had lobbied hard to proceed with the pact that could also help to contain China's growing regional dominance, as it is not involved.
The RCEP is seen as an alternative to the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, for a path to the broader Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) that APEC aspires to.
"We should support the multilateral trading system and practice open regionalism, to allow developing members to benefit more from international trade and investment," Xi said.
China will speed up negotiations with partners on free trade pacts, and work for the speedy conclusion of RCEP talks, he added.
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