China has issued a travel advisory asking its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan over earthquake risks, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
Guo made the remarks in response to a media query about the travel advisory issued by the ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Japan earlier on the day.
"The Chinese consular alert has made it very clear. A series of earthquakes have struck Japan recently, resulting in a number of injuries. Tsunamis have been observed in several places in Japan, and more than 100,000 people have received evacuation orders. The relevant Japanese authorities have warned of even larger follow-up earthquakes. Proceeding from the responsibly for Chinese citizens' safety and health, the Chinese government has promptly issued the consular alert to safeguard the safety of Chinese nationals abroad. This is the due responsibility of China's diplomatic work and the inherent requirement of serving the people through diplomatic work," Guo said.
China warns against Japan travel over earthquake risks: spokesman
China warns against Japan travel over earthquake risks: spokesman
Representatives from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member states, along with stakeholders from the business and academic communities, convened in Shenzhen City of south China's Guangdong Province on Thursday for a series of discussions centered on shaping the theme and priorities for APEC cooperation in 2026.
The symposium, held ahead of the APEC Informal Senior Officials' Meeting which will open Friday, is a longstanding tradition of the organization and not only provides valuable input for cooperation in the coming year but also aims to inject vitality into long-term collaboration across the Asia-Pacific region.
Participants exchanged views on topics focusing on building an Asia-Pacific community which sets out a new vision, new opportunities, new prospects while achieving win-win cooperation grounded in openness, innovation, and collaborative development.
"The theme for APEC 2026, 'Building an Asia-Pacific community to prosper together: openness, innovation and cooperation', promises to build on the work we have undertaken over the past five years in the pursuit of the Putrajaya Vision. The global trading system faces significant challenges, transformative technologies such as AI and demographic shifts despite, or because of these circumstances, APEC relevance is more important than ever," said Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat.
Attendees said that as the most important economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific, APEC has made significant contributions to advancing trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, as well as promoting regional economic integration, serving as a model among various regional cooperation frameworks worldwide.
China is set to host the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, marking the third time it will have hosted the gathering.
Participants in Thursday's seminar also expressed their anticipation for more practical cooperation in areas such as advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, enhancing connectivity, developing the digital economy and promoting artificial intelligence.
"From the perspective of openness, a crucial aspect is the construction of the Asia-Pacific free trade area to achieve regional economic integration. In terms of innovation, many new technologies present both opportunities and challenges. How to leverage these effectively to provide greater momentum for economic development in the Asia-Pacific region is a key priority, while also working to mitigate potential risks," said Zhan Yongxin, chair of the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, in an interview following the event.
APEC symposium in Shenzhen seeks to shape future of regional cooperation for 2026
