Li Chenggang, International Trade Negotiator and Deputy Minister, attended the 31st APEC Ministerial Meeting.

The 31st APEC Ministerial Meeting was held in Jeju, South Korea on May 15-16, 2025. Li Chenggang, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Commerce and the representative for international trade negotiations, led the Chinese delegation to the meeting, where he presented China's position on topics such as promoting connectivity in the multilateral trade system, promoting trade facilitation through AI innovation, and using sustainable trade to drive prosperity. The meeting released a joint statement from the APEC Ministerial Meeting. Li Chenggang stated that recently, certain economies have implemented so-called "reciprocal tariffs" and sparked global trade frictions, which seriously violate WTO rules, disrupt the multilateral trade system, and lead to global economic turmoil. Many trading partners have expressed strong dissatisfaction and clear opposition. APEC members should work together to maintain stability in the international economic and trade order, uphold true multilateralism, firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, objectively deal with the global trade disorder caused by unilateral tariff measures, and ensure the smooth operation of global trade within the framework of the WTO. Li Chenggang also emphasized that APEC members should take effective actions in promoting the reform of the WTO. They should use new approaches to address development issues, achieve development-oriented outcomes at the 14th Ministerial Meeting, facilitate the early integration of the Investment Facilitation Agreement and Electronic Commerce Agreement into the WTO legal framework, restore the normal operation of the dispute settlement mechanism as soon as possible, and enhance the representativeness and authority of the WTO. Furthermore, Li Chenggang pointed out that APEC should uphold the principles of openness, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit, deepen cooperation in trade and investment facilitation, and vigorously promote regional economic integration. They should harness the positive role of AI in promoting trade facilitation, create an open and cooperative production and supply chain system empowered by AI, build an open, inclusive, efficient, and stable global production and supply chain, and create a stable, fair, transparent, and predictable environment for business development. APEC should also deepen cooperation in regional supply chain interconnection, promote standard alignment, and achieve deep interconnection in regional supply chains. During the meeting, Li Chenggang also held discussions with various economic delegations and the Director-General of the WTO on bilateral and multilateral economic and trade issues.