Former Vice President Vincent Siew is in Beijing to attend this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
APEC, a regional trade bloc, accounts for more than 50% of global economic output.
Twenty-one national leaders or representatives participated in the high-level meeting Tuesday. These leaders include US President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and others.
High on the agenda includes regional economic integration, innovative development and economic reform, infrastructure investment and comprehensive connectivity.
Leaders of APEC economies agreed to include the China-initiated Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) in their joint announcement. They also agreed to conduct a two-year study into the establishment of the area.
China held a welcoming banquet at its national aquatic center Water Cube Monday night. Before the banquet started, Siew exchanged words with US President Barack Obama, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Hong Kong’s Chief Executive CY Leung.
Siew is attending the summit on behalf of President Ma Ying-jeou. Taiwan’s leaders have been barred from attending the event due to opposition from China.