China has close economic and trade relations with APEC economies. APEC is the most important region with which China has cooperation. Nine of the ten largest trading partners of China are APEC economies. They are Japan, the US, Hong Kong, China, ASEAN members, the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Russia, Australia and Canada.

In 1999, 75.13% of China's import and export was conducted with APEC economies with the total amount reaching 270.9 billion US dollars. In 1999, the actual amount of foreign direct investment utilized was 41.24 billion US dollars, with 30.92 billion US dollars from APEC economies, which accounted for 74.9% of the total amount utilized that year. So taking an active part in Asia-Pacific Region's economic cooperation, helping establish an open trading and investing circumstance are important for China to develop the economy and trade relations with APEC members. They also have great meaning for China's on-going reforming and long-term economic development.