Xi sounds warning on Asia-Pacific ‘Cold War’

Xi Jinping has launched a thinly-veiled criticism of the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the US and Britain.

China's President Xi Jinping. Picture: AFP

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned the Asia-Pacific region must not “relapse” into Cold War-style confrontation, in a thinly-veiled criticism of the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the US and Britain.

“Attempts to draw ideological lines or form small circles on geopolitical grounds are bound to fail,” President Xi told the APEC CEO’s summit in a prerecorded speech on Thursday morning.

“The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era.”

He claimed China – which has slapped $20bn in trade bans on Australian exports and frozen high-level engagement with Australian ministers – would “forge an Asia-Pacific partnership based on mutual trust, inclusiveness and win-win co-operation”.

“We should be forward-looking, move ahead and reject practices of discrimination and exclusion of others,” Mr Xi said.

China has heavily criticised the trilateral AUKUS partnership of English-speaking countries, framing it as a threat to regional stability.

He said China “will continue to practice true multilateralism” by adhering to the WTO-centred multilateral trading system, and “take an active part in global economic governance and promote the building of an open world economy” through its Belt and Road Initiative.

“China will steadfastly advance high-quality Belt and Road co-operation, facilitate connectivity in the Asia-Pacific, ensure stable and smooth functioning of industrial and supply chains in the region, and deepen co-operation with all stakeholders in such areas as e-commerce and digital logistics,” Mr Xi said.

“With these efforts, we can inject impetus into economic recovery and sustainable development in our region.”

Mr Xi emphasised his country’s bid to join the CPTPP trade deal, saying the country was “committed to building a high-standard market system” and would continue to open up its agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

“We treat all types of market entities on an equal basis, and we are working to develop a unified, open, competitive and orderly market system.”

His comments come as Australia pursues multiple cases against China in the WTO.

Mr Xi also promoted his country’s environmental agenda, declaring: “However formidable the task may be, we will work tirelessly to make our contribution to promoting global green transition.”

He said the Covid-19 crisis was a “once in a century test that is crucial to the future of humanity”.

Regional leaders will address the New Zealand-hosted APEC summit on Saturday.