China boosts shared prosperity in Asia-Pacific in World Economy News 22/05/2026 The first five months of 2026 have seen intensified geopolitical rivalries and a turbulent global economy. To ensure businesses operate smoothly, major countries should take responsibility for stabilizing both regional and global markets. As the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2026, China is working to inject stability and foster consensus for regional prosperity. Under the theme “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together”, China has prioritized openness, innovation and cooperation to advance the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. Around 2017, China shifted its focus toward the Asia-Pacific region. This pivot shaped a new economic landscape characterized by closer ties and a stronger emphasis on regional integration. That year, China’s trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries crossed a record $500 billion. In the following years, through the Belt and Road Initiative, APEC, the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and the signing of the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 Upgrade Protocol, China has steered neighboring countries toward a new consensus. A standout result is that ASEAN became China’s largest trading partner in 2020, while China has remained the association’s largest trading partner since 2009. Four years after its implementation, the RCEP has significantly impacted China’s trade landscape. By 2025, China’s trade with the other RCEP members reached $1.9 trillion, accounting for 44.2 percent of the country’s total foreign trade growth and underscoring the agreement’s role in fostering regional cooperation. China’s high-tech exports grew by 13.2 percent, with exports of specialized equipment, high-end machine tools, and industrial robots increasing by 20.6 percent, 21.5 percent and 48.7 percent respectively. This reflects China’s growing export focus on high-end technology and advanced productive forces. China i