Home field diplomacy is not only a platform for demonstrating diplomatic power, but also an opportunity to practice the diplomacy of reform and opening-up. All perspectives of APEC this time round are embodied in the theme that profit is gained from reciprocity.

At the 22nd APEC conference held in Beijing on November 10 and 11, the participating leaders were photographed en famille in traditional Chinese clothes with a unique Chinese flavor. The effect of home field diplomacy turned up when APEC week was pushed into an upsurge.

The most impressive action of China's home field diplomacy this time round has been the promotion of free trade. After being proposed at the 2006 APEC conference held in Hanoi, construction of the FATTP has finally won consensus in Beijing 8 years later. Asian countries will integrate 56 multi-free trade arrangements into a single specific unit with higher levels of trade, service and investment in wider fields. It offers a new version of economic integration in Asia and confirms the position of FTA as the standard in international trade. The China-South Korea free trade zone was finally established, which will provide a fillip to free trade in Asia.

Meanwhile, the Beijing APEC conference will release the blueprint for APEC interconnection and interworking, which covers construction of Hard Connections in highways, railways and airways, as well as Soft Connections in policies and regulations. This blueprint, together with "One Belt and One Road", has a wide influence. The most noticeable part is the interconnection of people. President Obama announced in Beijing that from the 12th of this month, the longest validity of visa for students to America will be prolonged to 5 years, and visas for commerce and tourism to 10 years. Movement of people will become more convenient between China and the US. They will play a leading role in the whole region.

Under China's instigation, APEC this year made a significant push against corruption. Building up the APEC anti-corruption net is significant in removing obstacles to economic growth, strengthening cooperation, and preventing economic crime through institutional arrangements.

Home field diplomacy is not only a platform for demonstrating diplomatic power, but also an opportunity to practice the diplomacy of reform and opening-up. At the APEC CEO Summit, President Xi Jinping claimed that in the next 10 years, China's investment abroad will reach 1.25 trillion dollars. This means that investment abroad will triple and China will change its role from the biggest capital importer to a net exporter of capital. All of this shows an opening China in pursuit of trade balance.

The main purpose of diplomacy is furthering the public interest. China's achievements as the host country are a reflection of the concept of reciprocity in this new period for China. "We will direct more of our attention to friendship than to profits," said President Xi, emphasizing that it is important to hold the correct attitude towards reciprocity. China has made it the main topic of home field diplomacy during the APEC conference.

The article is edited and translated from《APEC“主场外交”展现中国义利观》, source: The Beijing News.