2024-11-18 Global Times HaiPress
BEIJING,Nov. 18,2024 -- The 31stAPEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima,Peru,concluded on Saturday,with leaders of 21 member economies calling for enhanced free trade and greater connectivity. Facing unprecedented global risks and challenges that cannot be addressed by any single economy alone,Asia-Pacific economies are expected to engage in closer cooperation to withstand turbulence and build a community with a shared future for mankind. In an interview with Global Times (GT) reporter Qian Jiayin,Cynthia Sanborn (Sanborn),director of the Center for China and Asia-Pacific at Universidad del Pacífico in Peru,said that APEC serves as a useful platform for developing business contacts and opening new opportunities for trade.
GT: The theme of this year's APEC meeting is "Empower,Include,Grow." Why do you think this theme was chosen for the APEC meeting in Peru? How has the APEC mechanism contributed to the development of Latin American countries?
Sanborn: The rise of protectionism is a pressing concern for countries in Latin America. We have free trade agreements with over half of APEC members,including key partners such as the US and China. We remain hopeful that these agreements will be respected across political transitions,preserving the mutual economic benefits they provide. In this context,forums like APEC are crucial for keeping the discussion of fair and open trade on the table,serving as vital platforms to advocate for a rules-based multilateral trading system.
GT: With APEC and G20 being held in Latin American countries,issues like the rise of the Global South and global governance have again become key topics of focus for participants. What does the rise of the Global South in global governance mean?
Sanborn: The evolving role of the Global South in global governance has become an important topic of discussion,with Latin American leaders having contributed to the demands of developing countries for a redefinition of global institutions and for greater attention to issues such as climate change,inequality,and social and environmental justice. Yet,it is also clear that the countries commonly grouped under the "Global South," including those in Latin America,do not form a monolithic bloc and often differ in their perspectives and policies.
On global issues like the crises in Gaza and Ukraine,Latin American countries hold a range of views,reflecting the region's diverse political landscapes and priorities. Navigating the path toward transformative change in global governance while respecting the varied standpoints and complex realities of these nations remains an ongoing challenge.
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