On February 18, 2019, Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Jun met with visiting newly-appointed Executive Director of the Secretariat of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria.

Zhang Jun said that APEC is an important economic cooperation forum in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese side values APEC cooperation and is willing to, together with various parties, in line with the spirit of Asia-Pacific partnership, stick to the right direction of building an open economy in the Asia-Pacific region, and make greater progress in such areas as digital economy, connectivity, the post-2020 cooperation vision. The Chinese side will support the work of the APEC Secretariat as always.

Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria expressed that China is an important member of APEC, as well as an active advocator of and important contributor to Asia-Pacific economic cooperation. Highly appreciating the Chinese side's significant role in such fields as promoting regional economic integration and cooperation in connectivity, the Secretariat stands ready to enhance cooperation with the Chinese side, so as to inject new impetus into the common development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.