Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his visit to the United States by urging Asia-Pacific economies to prioritize innovation and expand trade during the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco. The summit, which wrapped up on Friday, saw discussions on various global conflicts, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East. President Xi emphasized the role of innovation in driving development and called for efforts to promote scientific and technological cooperation in an open and fair environment.

President Xi, addressing the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting chaired by US President Joe Biden, highlighted the need for countries to work together in safeguarding free trade and maintaining open and stable global industrial and supply chains. He emphasized the importance of rejecting any attempts to politicize or impose security implications on economic and trade issues. Furthermore, President Xi assured that China was not seeking to replace anyone and expressed the country's willingness to share its development opportunities with the world.

During his visit, President Xi engaged in a four-hour discussion with President Biden aimed at stabilizing the strained ties between China and the US. While issues such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, and conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza remained largely unresolved, the two leaders did agree to resume military-to-military communications, which Beijing had cut off last year after a visit to Taiwan by then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In a joint declaration, the 21 APEC members committed to expanding and liberalizing trade, combating corruption, and addressing climate change. They reiterated their dedication to delivering a free, fair, transparent, and predictable trade and investment environment. Additionally, the members pledged to enhance transparency and technical cooperation, promote resilient and sustainable supply chains, and improve transport links.

The APEC summit, which began last weekend, was accompanied by a report indicating that economic expansion in the region would lag behind the rest of the world in the coming years, partially due to slower growth in China. As China and the US are the forum's largest members, the cordial summit between President Xi and President Biden provided reassurance to participants, with agreements on collaborative efforts in areas such as narcotics control and artificial intelligence.

Buck Gee, regional chair of the Committee of 100, a leading Chinese-American civic group, highlighted the significance of President Xi's presence at the summit, stating that China and the United States, as competitors, are aware of the need to survive and navigate the complexities of the world.

The APEC summit, renowned for its consensus-oriented structure, serves as an incubator for regional discussions on technical and non-controversial matters, aiming to foster improved cooperation among member economies.

Overall, President Xi's call for innovation and trade expansion, coupled with the agreement to resume military communications and the joint commitment to advancing trade and addressing global challenges, underscored the importance of collaboration and stability among the Asia-Pacific economies.