With U.S. tariffs weighing heavily on the global economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to cast China as a champion of free and open trade during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit held Friday in Gyeongju, South Korea.

Taking center stage before leaders of Pacific Rim nations, Xi called for the protection of the multilateral trading system and for deeper regional economic cooperation.

“Changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world,” Xi told delegates. “The rougher the seas, the more we must pull together,” he said, emphasizing unity amid global trade turbulence.
Xi’s remarks appeared aimed at contrasting Beijing’s position with that of Washington, whose protectionist policies and tariffs have disrupted global trade flows. Earlier this month, Xi had warned that China could restrict exports of rare earth minerals, vital to the global tech industry. However, addressing the APEC gathering, he struck a more conciliatory tone, urging nations to “extend, rather than break, supply chains.”

Despite Xi’s assurances, skepticism persists among several Asian economies. Many countries remain wary of Beijing’s trade practices and its use of export controls as leverage in disputes, even as China promotes itself as a stabilizing force in global commerce.

On the sidelines of the summit, Xi held a series of bilateral meetings. He met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, marking the first formal talks between the two countries’ leaders since 2017. Xi described the relationship between China and Canada as moving “toward a trend of positive development” and invited Carney to visit China.

“In recent years, we have not been as engaged,” Carney acknowledged, expressing openness to renewed dialogue despite ongoing trade frictions involving Chinese steel and Canadian canola oil—both affected by U.S. tariffs under former President Donald Trump’s trade measures.

Xi also held his first-ever meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, signaling an effort to ease tensions and enhance cooperation within the region.

The APEC summit, bringing together leaders from 21 economies, has become a key stage for competing visions of global trade—pitting protectionism against calls for openness and collaboration. As global economic uncertainty deepens, Xi’s bid to position China as a defender of free trade underscores Beijing’s ambition to shape the next phase of regional economic order.