18 Quotes from Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC CEO Summit 2021

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered remarks during the 2021 APEC CEO Summit and spoke about building an APEC community with a shared future.

On fighting COVID-19 together

1. “At this historical juncture, it is important that we in the Asia-Pacific face up to the responsibility of the times, be in the driver’s seat, and strive hard to meet the goal of building an APEC region with a shared future.”
2. “First, we need to make all-out efforts to fight COVID-19. To emerge from the shadow of the pandemic and achieve steady economic recovery at an early date is the most pressing task for us.”
3. “In the face of this once-in-a-century test that is crucial to the future of humanity, the APEC economies, as well as, various sectors should put people and their lives first, follow the guidance of science, pull together with solidarity, extend assistance to each other, and fight to beat the pandemic.”
4. “We should support each other in fighting COVID-19 and step-up cooperation in areas such as testing methods, treatment medicine, and the research, development, production, and mutual recognition of vaccines to truly create synergy against COVID-19.”
5. “We should translate the consensus that vaccines are a global public good into concrete actions, ensure their fair and equitable distribution as well as their accessibility and affordability in developing countries, and thus work together to close the immunization gap.”

   On upholding openness and cooperation

6. “Openness is the sure way for realising human prosperity and progress.”
7. “No matter how global developments may evolve, the APEC economies will keep its strengths of being resilient and robust.”
8. “We should all be broad-minded, following the underlying trend of the times and proactively expand opening-up.”
9. “We should be forward-looking, move ahead, and reject practices of discrimination and exclusion of others.”

   On promoting green transition

10. “A sound eco-environment is the most basic public good that benefits all.”
11. “APEC economies should make its post-pandemic recovery a green one and take the lead in making a science-based response to climate change.”
12. “Working together, all of us can embark on a path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development.”
13. “We need to gain an accurate understanding of what sustainable development means, put the people first, and strike a balance between economic growth, ensuring people’s well-being, and energy conservation and emissions reduction.”
14. “This will enable us to catalyse green transition in the course of economic development and achieve greater development through green transition.”

    On actively promoting innovation

15. “Innovation is an important force driving human progress.”
16. “The APEC economies has distinctive intellectual resources and a long tradition of innovation. Having created many new technologies, new industries, and new mechanisms, APEC has always been a global pacesetter of innovation-driven development.”
17. “Today, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is well underway, and information technology, biotechnology and manufacturing technology are developing rapidly.”
18. “We need to scale up cooperation between APEC member economies on scientific and technological innovation, and foster an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for the development of science and technology.”