Track and field development in China helps drive global athletics: World Athletics president

The profound popularity of track and field athletics in China is a crucial driver of the sport's development worldwide, said Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, speaking in an interview at the organization's headquarters in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) was honored with the Member Federation Award by World Athletics on Friday for its contribution to the global profile of the sport over the past year.

The award, presented annually, celebrates a national federation that has demonstrated outstanding progress and impact. The CAA emerged victorious from a shortlist of six federations, each nominated by one of World Athletics' six Area Associations, with the final selection made by the World Athletics Executive Board.

In light of the achievement, Coe said that the increasing momentum of track and field athletics in China in recent years is not only helping to elevate the country's role on the global stage, but pushing the whole sport forward.

"It's a very important player because not only do you have a large population and probably one of the largest percentages of your population that enjoy running. Every time I come to China, any weekend, there are 30 or even 40 marathons taking place. So, the running revolution in China is a very strong one. But also, you are dedicating time and energy, and I've seen it myself, to some centers of excellence specializing in coaching around sprinting or endurance or the field events, particularly some of the jumps and the throws. And that means that a strong China creates an even stronger platform for World Athletics and its development. Plus of course, the commercial potentiality that we know China can bring to the table in terms of commercial partners and more possibilities of staging more of our events," he said.

The sports organization leader also emphasized that more World Athletics events are set to be held in China thanks to the efforts made by the CAA.

"There were many, many features that have distinguished the Chinese federation for many years. They have very, very good administration. They are consistently hosting and being involved with the local organizing committees of our key WAS -- World Athletic Series -- events in China just this year. We had the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. We had the World Relays in Guangzhou and of course in 2027, the jewel in the crown comes to Beijing, which of course is our World Athletics Championship," he said.

Track and field development in China helps drive global athletics: World Athletics president

Track and field development in China helps drive global athletics: World Athletics president

Track and field development in China helps drive global athletics: World Athletics president

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting