观察家｜聚焦APEC：挑战与预期

I'm Robert Lawrence Kuhn and here's what I'm watching: APEC 2023 in San Francisco, the 30th annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, at a challenging time of economic fragility, geopolitical tensions, and the looming calamity of climate change.  

These multifarious challenges reinforce both APEC's importance and its challenges, given that its 21 member economies on the Pacific Rim have a combined GDP of over 50 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for more than 60 percent of global GDP. 

我是罗伯特·劳伦斯·库恩，以下是我正在关注的话题：在旧金山举行的2023年亚太经合组织第三十次领导人非正式会议。当今世界面临着经济脆弱、地缘政治紧张以及气候灾难频发等诸多挑战。这些挑战更加突显了亚太经合组织会议的重要性。该组织包含环太平洋沿岸21个成员经济体，其国内生产总值总量超过50万亿美元，占全球国内生产总值总量的60%以上。

Although APEC's founding purpose was to promote free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region, it is not possible, in today's complex world, to separate international economics from domestic economics and even social concerns. Prime APEC issues this year, in addition to climate change, include: food security, healthcare, anti-corruption, digitalization, women's economic empowerment, and supporting underserved and underrepresented communities.

虽然亚太经济合作组织成立的最初目标是在亚太地区推动实现自由贸易，但在当今纷繁复杂的全球局势下，我们不可能把国际经济、国内经济甚至是社会问题来区分对待。今年亚太经合组织的主要议题除气候变化外，还包括粮食安全、卫生、反腐、数字化、妇女经济赋权以及为遭遇不公但未能发声的群体提供支持。

China has much to contribute because China has real-world-tested experience. Food security: China is reclaiming agricultural land which had been converted to industrial usage. Healthcare: the pandemic accelerated China's healthcare reform. Anti-corruption: China's relentless anti-corruption campaign affects all sectors and levels. Digitalization: China is a world-leader, especially in mobile payments. Women's economic empowerment: China has many female entrepreneurs. Underserved groups: China has set the world standard for extreme poverty alleviation and now focuses on common prosperity. 

中国在相关领域颇有建树，因为中国的经验都来自实践。在粮食安全方面，中国将曾经的工业用地重新开垦为农田；在卫生方面，经历了疫情之后中国加速推进了医疗改革；在反腐方面，中国坚持不懈倡导反腐行动，涉及各个领域和层级；在数字化方面，中国已全球领先，特别是在移动支付领域；在妇女经济赋权方面，中国有着诸多女性企业家；在均衡发展方面，中国为全球建立了脱离极端贫困的标准，目前又集中力量去实现共同富裕。 

Nor can APEC avoid global geopolitics. Issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity — the always emotional issues of borders and maritime demarcations — lurk beneath surface pleasantries. 

In the region, issues in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and of course Taiwan predominate. But APEC can not escape global conflicts, especially Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and Hamas' recent horrific attacks on Israel and Israel's unremitting counterattack. These tragedies affect the entire international community.

亚太经济合作组织也无法回避全球地缘政治问题。主权和领土完整以及海洋边界划分等跟边境有关的问题总是容易让人情绪激动，这些都是潜伏在平静表面下的问题。在亚太地区，中国南海、中国东海，当然还有台湾问题都是主要问题。亚太经济合作组织也无法回避国际冲突问题，特别是目前持续的俄乌冲突、哈马斯最近对以色列的袭击以及以色列的不懈反击等。这些悲剧影响了整个国际社会。 

Grounded in the three priorities of interconnection, innovation and inclusion, the theme of 2023 APEC is "Creating a Resilient  and Sustainable Future for All" , which resonates with President Xi Jinping's call for "a global community of a shared future." While I doubt this theme is meant to carry a double meaning, that's the way I can read it: First, economic development that is resilient and sustainable, which the world needs to combat climate change; and second, APEC itself as an organization, with its challenges and internal divisions, as resilient and sustainable. APEC is an important forum for multilateral cooperation, all the more so given the multiple tensions and challenges that keep us awake at night.

聚焦互联互通、创新和包容三大重点，2023年亚太经济合作组织会议主题是“为所有人创造一个有韧性和可持续的未来”，这呼应了习主席提出的“人类命运共同体”理念。虽然我对这一主题是否还有话外之意持怀疑态度，但在我看来，这一主题主要有两层含义：首先，经济发展要有韧性且具备可持续性，来应对全球气候变化。第二，作为一个组织，亚太经济合作组织尽管面临挑战和内部分歧，但要保持韧性并且把目光放长远。亚太经济合作组织是多边合作的重要平台，并且在面临诸多让人夜不能寐的冲突与挑战的当下，尤为重要。

I'm keeping watch. 

我将持续观察。

I'm Robert Lawrence Kuhn.

我是罗伯特·劳伦斯·库恩。

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