“Regional economic integration is crucial” - Interview with Chanda, Director of the Trade, Investment and Innovation Division of the United Nations ESCAP

"China has established 'openness, innovation and cooperation' as three priority areas, sending a positive signal of firmly safeguarding open cooperation and deepening regional economic integration, which will help enhance regional economic resilience." Rupa Chanda, Director of the Trade, Investment and Innovation Department of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, said in an exclusive interview with this reporter recently.

Building the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area is the common vision of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies to promote regional economic integration. In May, China proposed at the 2026 APEC Second Senior Officials Meeting held in Shanghai that it should adhere to the main channel status of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area, coordinate different free trade paths, carry out cooperation in a flexible and pragmatic manner, and enhance the ability of all parties to participate in high-standard regional economic and trade arrangements. The APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting adopted the Suzhou Statement, in which all parties reaffirmed the promotion of regional economic integration and the construction of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area, released a clear signal of promoting win-win cooperation through cooperation, and injected new growth momentum into the Asia-Pacific economy. "For the Asia-Pacific region, regional economic integration is crucial and can bring economies of scale, resilience and more stable expectations." Chanda said that Shenzhen, as a highland of technological innovation, is highly consistent with APEC's goals of promoting digital trade, green economic cooperation and deepening regional economic integration.

In Chanda's view, connectivity is an important foundation for common prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Connectivity in the new era not only means building infrastructure such as roads, ports and railways, but also involves the safe, efficient and seamless cross-border flow of trade information such as data, licenses and bills of lading. Chanda said that China is an active participant in the Framework Agreement to Facilitate Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific. “As the process of formulating the upgraded blueprint progresses, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to achieve a higher level of connectivity in areas such as infrastructure, logistics, digital connectivity, and the convergence of rules and systems.”

In July, APEC Digital Week was held in Chengdu, Sichuan. The APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting held during the meeting adopted the "Chengdu Statement" and unanimously agreed to jointly promote digital and artificial intelligence technologies to empower the Asia-Pacific community. It established an action framework for APEC to deepen cooperation in the field of digital and artificial intelligence and empower regional innovation and development in the future period. "The digital economy and artificial intelligence are becoming important driving forces for the next stage of economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region," Chanda said.

Our reporter Yang Yi