Hu arrives in Hawaii for APEC meeting

Xinhua, November 11, 2011

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R2) is received by a senior U.S. official upon his arrival in Honolulu, Hawaii for the Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Thursday, November 10, 2011. [Xinhua]

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Thursday for the Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), slated for Saturday and Sunday.

At the annual meeting, leaders of the 21-member group will exchange views on economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening regional economic integration and expanding trade.

They will also consider the promotion of green growth and fostering job creation in green industries, energy security, and expanding regulatory cooperation and advancing regulatory convergence.

President Hu is expected to speak at the meeting and express his views on the world economic situation and the regional economic situation, Wu Hailong, assistant foreign minister of China, said at a press briefing earlier this week.

In his speech, Wu said, the Chinese leader will call for "improving global economic governance, shifting the growth method, promoting economic globalization and regional economic integration."

Hu will also explain "China's stand on the issues of free and open trade and investment, green growth, the adjustment of economic structure and regulatory cooperation," Wu said.

In Hawaii, Hu will join other APEC leaders in dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

APEC leaders are expected to discuss with ABAC representatives, among other things, regional economic integration, reform of the international monetary system, and food security.

The Chinese leader is scheduled to deliver a speech at the APEC CEO summit Saturday.

On the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, President Hu will meet U.S. President Barack Obama and other leaders of APEC members.

"China hopes the meeting will further promote the free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region, push forward economic and technology cooperation, support multilateral trade systems, oppose trade protectionism, so as to inject vitality into world economic recovery and growth," Assistant Commerce Minister Yu Jianhua said at a press briefing earlier this week.

APEC is the premier economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since APEC's birth in 1989 it has grown to encompass 21 members spanning four continents, and represents the most economically dynamic region in the world, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the world's population, around 50 percent of world GDP and about 44 percent of world trade.

APEC's 21 member economies are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.