Xi vows to protect free trade at Apec summit

Urges unity and stable supply chains; Trump snubs major summit

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

China's President Xi Jinping (left) with his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung during the Apec summit in Gyeongju

(PHOTO: REUTERS)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Asia-Pacific leaders on Friday that his country would help to defend global free trade at an annual economic regional forum snubbed by US President Donald Trump.

Xi took centre stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit that began Friday in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, as Trump left the country a day earlier after reaching deals with Xi meant to ease their escalating trade war.

Trump described his Thursday meeting with Xi as a roaring success, saying he would cut tariffs on China, while Beijing had agreed to allow the export of rare earth elements and start buying American soybeans.

“The more turbulent the times, the more we must work together,” Xi said during Apec’s opening session. “The world is undergoing a period of rapid change, with the international situation becoming increasingly complex and volatile.” Xi called for maintaining supply chain stability, ina riposte to US efforts to decouple its supply chains from China.

Xialso expressed hopestoworkwith other countries to expand cooperation in green industries and clean energy.