The main subjects of the meeting have already been established. They will be the principles and detailed components of the proposed Free Trade Area Asia-Pacific agreement, one element of the current ambitious plans to create a worldwide network of free trade agreements that should eventually abolish trade and investment barriers everywhere, at least in principle. The other five key areas of cooperation that have been chosen for discussion at this summit are economic reform, the new economy, innovative growth, inclusive support and urbanization. This builds on the focus on support for innovation that Premier Li Keqiang emphasized last month during his visits to Germany and Russia. Another major theme will be interconnectivity, or the development of the physical and data transmission infrastructure which is necessary for real growth in trade and investment volume.

But, as was to be expected, China will focus mostly on putting flesh on the bones of the country's recent proposals for tightly-focused regional agreements and new working groups. Wang Yi made a clear commitment to supporting ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation. He also referred positively to two of President Xi Jinping's recent regional initiatives: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Wang also mentioned the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank initiative, which is now in the early planning stages. The intent is clearly laid out: China plans to establish a certain leadership role in the development of regional cooperation structures, not out of hegemonic ambitions, but mainly out of an interest in adopting a level of responsibility that befits its new and growing economic power.

In this context, it is unsurprising that the Chinese government is taking this event extremely seriously. It has been thirteen years since China last hosted an APEC summit, and much has changed since then. All the stops are being pulled out to make the summit run smoothly and effectively: Huge efforts have been made to reduce air pollution during the period of the summit, especially since November, when the Beijing winter really begins, is often a difficult time for pollution control. Many offices and enterprises will be taking time off to reduce emissions. Meanwhile, the APEC summit will showcase a sparkling new conference center with an innovatively-designed new hotel, completed this year along the shore of Lake Yanqi just north of the capital. The APEC meetings are about establishing ongoing productive relationships, rather than producing spectacular one-off agreements, and China is going to make sure that this year's forums are as well-planned as possible.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/timcollard.htm

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