China to boost Asia-Pacific cooperation, development as APEC host: official

As host of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, China is committed to promoting regional cooperation and development across the Asia-Pacific, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said.

This year marks the APEC "China Year," with the theme of "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together." China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

The country is holding the first first senior officials' meeting and related events in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province, from Feb. 1 to 10, marking the launch of a year-long series of APEC China Year activities.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Ma said China aims to set the tone for unity in the Asia-Pacific region by emphasizing free trade and practical partnerships in an increasingly uncertain world.

"The world today is beset with changes and disturbances, with turmoil continuing to mount, unilateralism and protectionism on the rise, and the international economic and trade order facing grave challenges. The Asia-Pacific region stands at a crossroads and must choose its path, while international cooperation faces a critical moment of either advancement or regression. Against this backdrop, China's role as the host of the 2026 APEC meeting carries significance that extends far beyond APEC itself, and even beyond the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

Noting the 2026 APEC "China Year" coincides with the inaugural year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, Ma said that as the host of APEC meeting, China will play a leading role in shaping regional economic integration and advancing the development of an Asia-Pacific community. "China's economy is growing steadily, with an optimized structure and fresh momentum. It has surpassed 140 trillion yuan. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will further deepen reforms and expand opening-up. As APEC host, we will carry forward the historical initiative, lead regional economic integration, promote an Asia-Pacific Community, and create a good external environment for building a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development," said the vice foreign minister.

China to boost Asia-Pacific cooperation, development as APEC host: official

More than 1.413 billion cross-regional passenger trips were estimated nationwide during the first week of China's 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, the country's Ministry of Transport said Sunday.

Average daily cross-provincial passenger trips are expected to exceed 200 million, up 2 percent year on year, according to the ministry.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb 17 this year. This year's Spring Festival official holiday lasts nine days, with the travel rush running through March 13.

Each year during this period, millions of people working, studying or living away from their hometowns travel home for the Spring Festival, China's most important traditional holiday.

The country's railway system has seen increasing passenger traffic during the first week of the travel rush. On Sunday, railways nationwide were expected to handle 13.25 million passenger trips, with 1,688 extra passenger trains scheduled to meet travel demand.

Self-driving trips have dominated the total travel, with the road traffic increasing 2.1 percent year on year since the Spring Festival travel rush began.

Civil aviation passenger volumes have also experienced a surge. On Sunday, the country's civil aviation sector was expected to carry 2.39 million passengers on an estimated 19,614 flights, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.5 percent.

Over 1.4 bln trips expected in first week of China’s Spring Festival travel rush