Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport is bustling with APEC delegates and journalists as the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is set to open in the southern Chinese metropolis on Wednesday.
As the first stop for many participants, the airport has already welcomed more than 100 delegates from APEC member economies including South Korea, Malaysia, the United States, Papua New Guinea, and Mexico. With a full week of activities ahead, Shenzhen expects a peak in arrivals starting Monday.
Customs authorities at ports across the city have made targeted preparations, opening dedicated lanes for APEC delegates and tailoring entry plans for different groups. For overseas journalists covering the meeting, customs staff are providing advance policy consultations to specify declaration requirements and ensure the smooth clearance of large quantities of interview equipment.
Beyond the immediate rush, APEC cooperation is delivering long-term convenience for cross-border exchanges. A Mexican businessman said the APEC Business Travel Card allows him to travel visa-free for five years to participating APEC economies for business. With such facilitation measures, he said, he will have more opportunities to visit China, travel to different provinces and cities, and meet partners.
With more activities and cooperations to be held under the platform, APEC delegates and global visitors shared the same expectation that APEC mechanism could bring more open markets, cheaper goods, easier travel, broader opportunities, and tangible benefits for people across member economies.
Shenzhen airport welcomes APEC delegates as meeting week begins
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
