Asia-Pacific firms bullish on regional economy: US business leader

A leading U.S. business figure on Saturday said firms in the Asia-Pacific are "largely bullish" on the region's economy and view the artificial intelligence revolution as a key opportunity rather than a threat, citing a survey of about 600 business members.

Richard Cantor, chair of the United States Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, voiced confidence in the Asia-Pacific economic outlook during an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the fourth APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting in Shenzhen, ahead of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, to be held in the southern Chinese city on Nov. 18-19 under the theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together."

"We interview about 600 members across the region every year to find out what their view is of the international economy and the regional economy, as well as where they see risks evolving. So our survey shows that people in the region are largely bullish on the region's economy. They look at the global economy and they compare it to their own economy, and they tend to feel their own economies are doing much better than the global economy," he said.

Cantor pointed to the AI revolution as a key driver of that optimism, saying the region is well positioned to capitalize on it.

"I think what they see is that the AI revolution in particular is something that they feel that this region can take advantage of, well positioned to do so. And so they're more enthusiastic and they know there's a lot of change coming ahead, but this is a region that's not really as much afraid of change as many other areas," he said.

The three-day APEC ABAC meeting opened on Saturday in Shenzhen City of south China's Guangdong Province, bringing together more than 60 representatives from 21 APEC economies, along with nearly 200 experts and accompanying staff, according to the organizer, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

Founded in November 1995, ABAC is the only non-governmental body with an official advisory role in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, engaging in a formal dialogue and submitting annual policy recommendation reports to APEC leaders.

Asia-Pacific firms bullish on regional economy: US business leader

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Bangkok on Saturday that "China and Thailand are as close as one family" with unique advantage for the development of bilateral relations, as reflected in the practical cooperation achievements across various fields.

Li made the statement at a meeting with Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn in Bangkok. The Chinese premier is on a three-day official visit to Thailand through Sunday at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Conveying cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Thai king, Li recalled that during the king's state visit to China last year, Xi held talks with him, and the two sides reached important consensus on advancing the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future.

China appreciates that the Thai royal family has long attached great importance to and remained committed to promoting China-Thailand friendship, Li said.

He noted that the continued growth of China-Thailand economic and trade cooperation despite headwinds is particularly commendable amid the current turbulent international situation.

Li said that China stands ready to work with Thailand, in keeping with the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, to maintain close exchanges, expand cooperation in investment, technological innovation, new energy vehicles and other areas, deepen people-to-people exchanges, and promote economic and social development in both countries for the greater well-being of their peoples.

The Thai king asked Li to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to Xi.

Recalling his state visit to China last year, the king said that the successful meeting with Xi was fruitful and remained fresh in his memory.

Premier Li's official visit to Thailand would help further consolidate the traditional friendship between Thailand and China and deepen practical cooperation between the two countries, the king said.

China, Thailand as close as one family: Chinese premier