Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the international community to safeguard multilateral trade and implement authentic multilateralism.

China’s state-run Xinhua news reported that Xi made the remarks during his speech at Friday's plenary session of the two-day Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) summit in Gyeongju.

In the speech, Xi emphasized the need to reinforce the authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system, centered on the World Trade Organization(WTO).

Xi also noted that global changes are accelerating, international affairs are becoming increasingly complex and the Asia-Pacific region is facing greater instability and uncertainty as it develops. The president urged member states to cooperate and ride out the crisis together.

The speech came as the United States retreats from multilateral institutions, with U.S. President Donald Trump skipping the plenary session and leaving South Korea the previous day.