economy
China calls for APEC cooperation as commerce minister skips opening over ‘urgent official business’
China's international trade representative Li Chenggang said he was chairing Friday's meeting as Commerce Minister Wang Wentao had urgent matters to attend to.
TL;DR
- China's international trade representative Li Chenggang opened the APEC trade ministers' meeting in Suzhou.
- Li emphasized the importance of regional economies sending a strong message in support of cooperation.
- China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao was absent from the opening due to urgent official business.
- The APEC meeting follows a recent summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
- The U.S. delegation is led by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Rick Switzer.
- APEC, founded in 1989, is an informal forum for 21 members to discuss free trade and economic cooperation.