China will continue advancing Asia-Pacific economic integration: spokesperson

Asia-Pacific affairs should be decided by Asia-Pacific countries through consultation, not imposed on them by a single country, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

The spokesperson, Geng Shuang, is responding to a question at a routine press conference whether U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would mean loss of its dominance in Asia-Pacific economic and trade affairs to China.

"Trade arrangements should not be politicized, nor considered or interpreted too much from a certain geopolitical perspective," Geng said.

The trade arrangements are not a "zero-sum" game, and all parties ought to work with, rather than against, each other, the spokesperson said.

Geng said China have always maintained an open attitude toward arrangements that help advance economic integration and facilitate trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The APEC meetings in Peru discussed free trade arrangements in the Asia-Pacific region and decided to continue advancing the Asia-Pacific free trade zone process. This is a very positive signal," he added.

China will join all sides to continue to work on regional economic integration, taking into consideration the differences and diversity of Asia-Pacific economies and upholding the principles of openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit, for the well-being of countries and peoples in the region, Geng said.

"China will play its role and make its own contribution during the process," he added. Endi