Fri Oct 31 06:36:33 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summary and rewrite based on the provided text:

Summary:

The 2025 APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, was dominated by the shadow of the US-China trade relationship, despite the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the absence of US President Donald Trump. Xi Jinping emphasized China’s commitment to global free trade and multilateralism, calling for cooperation amidst a complex and volatile international environment. Trump’s decision to skip the summit, despite recent deals with Xi, raised concerns about U.S. commitment to the APEC forum and its role in the Asia-Pacific region. The summit aimed to address pressing economic challenges, including supply chain vulnerabilities, aging populations, the impact of AI, and strategic competition, but divisions among members, particularly regarding trade, posed challenges to reaching a unified statement. South Korea, as host, emphasized AI cooperation and demographic solutions, pushing for a focus on sustainable growth and regional prosperity.

News Article Rewrite:

Xi Jinping Champions Free Trade at APEC Summit Amid Trump Absence

Gyeongju, South Korea – Chinese President Xi Jinping seized the spotlight at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Saturday, November 1, 2025, vowing that China would champion global free trade and multilateral cooperation. His strong statement came as U.S. President Donald Trump notably skipped the annual forum, despite recently brokered deals with China intended to de-escalate their ongoing trade war.

Trump’s absence from APEC, a forum representing nearly 40% of the world’s population and over half of global goods trade, has sparked debate about the U.S.’s long-term commitment to the region and multilateralism.

Addressing APEC leaders, President Xi called for unified efforts to maintain supply chain stability and expand cooperation in green industries, despite concerns about Chinese exports potentially undercutting domestic industries in other nations. He said. “The more turbulent the times, the more we must work together. The world is undergoing a period of rapid change, with the international situation becoming increasingly complex and volatile.”

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, chairing the summit, urged members to overcome national interests for shared prosperity, emphasizing the need to address challenges like strategic competition between the US and China, supply chain issues, and the impact of AI on jobs. South Korea is prioritizing AI cooperation and demographic challenges during the summit.

While Trump touted his meeting with Xi as a success, experts warn that significant tensions remain between the two economic powers, potentially undermining APEC’s broader goals. Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, noted that while the leaders’ meeting averted “worst-case outcomes for global trade,” “Greater multilateral efforts are needed to address the region’s most pressing economic challenges.”

Efforts to issue a unified statement at the summit face hurdles due to differing positions among APEC members on trade and other critical issues, raising the possibility that the summit may conclude without a consensus declaration.

Read More